Equity and Just Transition Commitments in South Africa

The report finds significant disparities in climate progress across South Africa, with affluent cities and provinces leading in ambition while less wealthy regions lag. It highlights a one-directional influence where provincial strategies shape city policies, particularly in the Western Cape, and notes inconsistent just transition commitments within the private sector.

• Climate progress is uneven across South Africa, with targets varying significantly between the national level, provinces, and cities.
• Major urban centres, specifically Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria, are driving climate action with net zero targets and just transition measures that frequently exceed those of provincial frameworks.
• Provincial strategies positively influence city-level policies, though this effect is primarily seen in wealthier areas. For example, the Western Cape's net zero strategy has aligned Cape Town's policies with decarbonisation milestones for 2030, 2040, and 2050.
• There is a correlation between wealth and climate ambition, where affluent cities and provinces develop more ambitious strategies and just transition measures compared to less affluent regions.
• Commitments to a just transition within the private sector are inconsistent, with engagement levels varying by sector.

APA

Net Zero Tracker (2025). Equity and Just Transition Commitments in South Africa. https://zerotracker.net/analysis/equity-just-transition-commitments-in-south-africa

Chicago

Net Zero Tracker. Equity and Just Transition Commitments in South Africa. 2025. https://zerotracker.net/analysis/equity-just-transition-commitments-in-south-africa.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Net Zero Tracker |title=Equity and Just Transition Commitments in South Africa |date=15 January 2025 |url=https://zerotracker.net/analysis/equity-just-transition-commitments-in-south-africa |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{netzerotracker2025equity, author = {{Net Zero Tracker}}, title = {{Equity and Just Transition Commitments in South Africa}}, institution = {Net Zero Tracker}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://zerotracker.net/analysis/equity-just-transition-commitments-in-south-africa}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }