policy-brief_-wwf-sa_jet_wef-3fcd3d9d5b23e361.pdf

This policy brief by WWF South Africa examines the intersection of the Just Energy Transition (JET) and the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus. It argues that South Africa's pursuit of a low-carbon economy is hindered by policy incoherence, where energy, water, and food security goals are pursued in isolation. The document identifies institutional silos, political contestation from the coal lobby, and budget cuts to environmental agencies as primary barriers to achieving a sustainable and equitable transition.

• South Africa faces significant policy incoherence because its sustainable development goals are addressed through isolated instruments rather than an integrated framework. For example, the National Development Plan 2030 addresses water and food security independently of energy, while the Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) 2019 focuses on energy with limited regard for water and land constraints.
• The transition to renewable energy via the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has created thousands of jobs, but these benefits are not equitably distributed. Job creation has primarily occurred outside coal-producing regions, leaving the replacement of mining jobs in Mpumalanga as a critical unresolved challenge.
• Resource competition is intensifying in the Mpumalanga region, where 60% of the surface area is sought for mining, creating a conflict between mining interests and the need for arable land for agriculture.
• Institutional barriers to policy coherence include a lack of horizontal coordination between departments. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) focuses on protecting the coal industry, while the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) struggles to balance climate goals with economic growth and has suffered substantial budget cuts.
• Powerful interest groups, specifically the coal lobby and fossil fuel industry, obstruct the Just Energy Transition by framing arguments around potential job losses and exploiting fears regarding employment to maintain the status quo.
• The agricultural sector exerts disproportionate influence over water resource management, using approximately 61% of the nation's water resources, which can lead to conflicts with municipal, industrial, and environmental conservation needs.
• Policy incoherence leads to the perpetuation of unsustainable practices, such as supporting new coal power projects. This hampers greenhouse gas emission reductions and exacerbates environmental degradation through acid mine drainage and increased water consumption.

APA

WWF South Africa (2024). policy-brief_-wwf-sa_jet_wef-3fcd3d9d5b23e361.pdf. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/policy-brief_-wwf-sa_jet_wef.pdf

Chicago

WWF South Africa. policy-brief_-wwf-sa_jet_wef-3fcd3d9d5b23e361.pdf. 2024. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/policy-brief_-wwf-sa_jet_wef.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=policy-brief_-wwf-sa_jet_wef-3fcd3d9d5b23e361.pdf |date=April 2024 |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/policy-brief_-wwf-sa_jet_wef.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafrica2024policybriefwwfsajetwef3fcd3d9d5b23e361pdf, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{policy-brief\_-wwf-sa\_jet\_wef-3fcd3d9d5b23e361.pdf}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2024}, month = apr, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/policy-brief_-wwf-sa_jet_wef.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }