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Quakers urge government to implement a universal basic income or face dire consequences
The Southern African Yearly Meeting of the Quakers calls for the South African government to implement an unconditional universal basic income (UBI) for all citizens and legal residents. The authors argue that South Africa's high unemployment and poverty have created a 'tinderbox' of social instability, and that a UBI—set at least at the upper-bound poverty line—would provide dignity, stimulate local economies, and reduce crime. They contrast UBI with means-tested social grants, noting that universality removes bureaucratic inefficiency and stigma. The document cites a 2008 pilot in Namibia as evidence of UBI's ability to improve health, education, and entrepreneurship. Proposed funding sources include taxes on carbon emissions, wealth, and resource rents, alongside reducing wasteful public expenditure.
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Document type: Statement
THE GLOBAL JUST TRANSITION - PILLAR OF THE FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
The document proposes a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty based on three pillars: non-proliferation (ending new exploration), fair phase-out of existing production, and a Global Just Transition. The Global Just Transition pillar focuses on enabling countries, workers, and communities to move away from fossil fuel dependence through economic diversification, the rapid deployment of renewable energy, and robust social protection. It emphasizes that wealthy nations must transition fastest and provide financial, technological, and capacity-building support to the Global South to ensure a sustainable and equitable transformation.
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Document type: Briefing
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS’ COVID-19 LENDING IN SOUTH AFRICA: CONTEXT, CONTENTIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The report analyzes R141 billion in pandemic-related loans from the IMF, World Bank, New Development Bank (NDB), and African Development Bank (AfDB). While these loans were cheaper than market-issued debt, the authors find they were approved opaquely and often carried conditionalities that pushed South Africa toward fiscal consolidation and privatization. The report highlights a lack of gender-responsive budgeting and human rights impact assessments, noting that austerity measures have negatively impacted social grants and public services. It recommends that all future IFI loan agreements and their projected costs be tabled in Parliament and subjected to human rights impact assessments.
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Document type: Research paper
Draft amendment to Regulations indicates SRD grant to end in March 2024 whilst value and beneficiary numbers eroded significantly
The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) expresses concern over the Department of Social Development's draft amendments to the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, which only extend the grant's expiry to March 2024 without increasing its R350 monthly value. The IEJ argues that the lack of funding in the 2023/24 National Budget suggests a plan to withdraw the grant, which would exacerbate food insecurity amid 13.4% food inflation in January 2023. Furthermore, the IEJ highlights that beneficiary numbers have dropped by approximately three million since March 2022 due to exclusionary regulations and flawed application systems. The IEJ calls for the grant to be retained indefinitely and transitioned into a comprehensive basic income support system, asserting that National Treasury has the fiscal space to do so following a R94 billion revenue overrun.
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Document type: Statement
Principales prioridades y brechas de inversión nacional para una Transición Justa en Colombia
The document identifies a significant financing gap for Colombia's climate goals and argues that a Just Transition requires dedicated investment in labor retraining, social protection, and regional diversification. It analyzes the current distribution of climate finance—dominated by public resources (67%)—and suggests leveraging innovative tools like sovereign green bonds and carbon tax revenues to ensure stability and equity in the transition.
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Document type: Report
Submission to the Presidential Climate Commission on South Africa’s Just Energy Transition - Investment Plan
The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and Climate Finance for Equitable Transitions (CLiFT) argue that the JET-IP's strategy of 'de-risking' private finance is insufficient to mobilise the required R1.5 trillion and exposes South Africa to significant fiscal, legal, and social risks. The authors contend that the plan fails to meet National Determined Contributions (NDCs) due to an over-reliance on private renewable energy and a lack of investment in public transport and energy efficiency. They recommend shifting to a 'rights-based' governance framework and an 'allocative credit policy' that prioritises public investment, local manufacturing, and comprehensive social protections for workers and communities.
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Document type: Report
Shifting Public Financial Flows from Fossil Fuels to Clean Energy under the Paris Agreement
The report argues that governments have failed to fulfill commitments to shift public financial flows away from fossil fuels, with subsidies increasing since the Paris Agreement. It identifies significant data gaps regarding state-owned enterprise investments and provides a framework for fossil fuel subsidy reform based on pricing, impact management, and stakeholder support.
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Document type: Report
Written submission on the 2023 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals
The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) critiques the 2023 South African Budget, asserting that it prioritizes debt stabilization and austerity over essential public services and social protection. The IEJ highlights significant real-term funding shortfalls in healthcare, education, and social grants, and warns that conditions on Eskom's debt relief facilitate privatization and exacerbate energy poverty. The document calls for a shift toward a developmental macroeconomic framework, progressive taxation—including a wealth tax and returning the corporate tax rate to 28%—and the implementation of a permanent basic income support system to address systemic inequality and poverty.
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Document type: Report
Budget 2023-2024 and the Social Relief of Distress Grant
The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) warns that National Treasury is undermining the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant through restrictive regulations and underfunding. Despite the President's commitment to a permanent basic income floor, the IEJ notes that the grant's value remains frozen at R350, failing to account for inflation and falling short of the Food Poverty Line (FPL) of R663. The document highlights a significant drop in approved applications—from 10.9 million in March 2022 to 7.5 million in January 2023—which the IEJ attributes to an excessively low means test of R624 and an onerous application process. The IEJ demands that the grant be increased to the FPL and that exclusionary provisions be revoked to protect the constitutional rights of the approximately 18.3 million people living in extreme poverty in South Africa.
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Document type: Statement
Budget 2023/2024 and the SRD grant
The document criticises the National Treasury for underfunding the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant and implementing exclusionary regulations. It highlights a significant drop in approved applications from 10.9 million in March 2022 to 7.5 million in January 2023, attributing this to a low means-test threshold of R624 and complex application processes. The IEJ calls for the grant to be increased to the Food Poverty Line of R663 and for the government to honour the President's commitment to protect grants from inflation.
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Document type: Statement
Exposure to barbeque smoke in Vientiane, Lao PDR
The document examines the health risks associated with charcoal grilling in Vientiane, Lao PDR, finding that workers—particularly women—face high levels of PM2.5 exposure. It highlights a lack of social protections in the informal food economy and recommends multi-sectoral collaboration to improve ventilation, promote clean fuels, and formalize labor contracts.
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Document type: Policy brief
The Case for Just Transitions in the Energy, Agricultural, and Ready-Made Garments Sectors in Bangladesh
The report argues that while Bangladesh must transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy, this process must be 'just' to avoid harming vulnerable groups. It examines three key sectors: the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, which faces environmental and labour rights challenges; the energy sector, which is shifting from fossil fuels to renewables; and the agricultural sector, which is highly vulnerable to climate change and shifting toward commercial agribusiness. The document emphasizes that a just transition requires inclusive stakeholder dialogue, reskilling of workers, gender-sensitive policies, and increased international climate finance to support social protection and infrastructure.
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Document type: Report
বাংলাদেশেদের জ্বালানি, কৃ নি, এবাং তৈনর প াোক খাদৈ ‘জাস্ট ট্রািজজেি’-এর গুরুত্ব
The report examines the necessity of a 'just transition' in Bangladesh, focusing on the energy, agriculture, and ready-made garment (RMG) sectors. It highlights that while Bangladesh has various climate policies, they often lack a focus on the social impacts on marginalized populations. The document identifies specific vulnerabilities in the RMG sector (water pollution and labor rights), the energy sector (dependence on fossil fuels and air pollution), and agriculture (climate-induced crop loss and land insecurity). It recommends integrating social justice, inclusive education, and targeted financial support into climate strategies to prevent further marginalization of women, youth, and poor workers during the green transition.
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Document type: Report
Caja de herramientas para ayudar a los responsables de la formulación de políticas públicas en el diseño conjunto de compromisos y estrategias de transición justa
The document outlines a framework for a Just Transition (TJ) in Colombia, emphasizing the need to manage the shift toward a low-carbon economy without exacerbating existing social inequalities. It identifies the mining and fossil fuel sectors as the most vulnerable due to their significant contribution to exports and employment. The guide recommends strengthening governance through a dedicated TJ Committee, improving social dialogue, reforming the labor market to address high informality, and diversifying regional economies. It also highlights the necessity of mobilizing financial resources to close the funding gap for Colombia's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
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Document type: Guide
The Case for Just Transitions in the Energy, Agricultural, and Ready-Made Garments Sectors in Bangladesh
The report argues that while Bangladesh must transition to a low-carbon economy to combat extreme climate vulnerability, this process must be 'just' to avoid marginalizing vulnerable workers and communities. It examines three key sectors: the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, which contributes 12% of GDP but faces severe environmental and labor issues; the energy sector, which is heavily dependent on gas (60%) and oil (30%) but aims for 30% renewable energy; and the agricultural sector, where 48.4% of the population is employed and faces significant losses from cyclones and sea-level rise. The document emphasizes that a just transition requires cross-ministerial coordination, reskilling programs, inclusive education, and expanded climate finance to support those displaced by green reforms.
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Document type: Report
Guidelines Advancing Just Transitions in Indonesia
The document outlines a roadmap for Indonesia to transition to a low-carbon economy without leaving vulnerable workers and communities behind. It defines the dimensions of just transition—procedural, distributive, and restorative—and provides a set of principles and a planning checklist. The guide analyses Indonesia's current policy landscape, highlighting the dominance of the energy sector in transition discussions and the need for a more cross-sectoral approach. It also presents international case studies from Germany, Canada, Sweden, the USA, and Australia to illustrate different leadership models and outcomes. Key recommendations include establishing a national governing body, creating a centralised database of affected workers, and enhancing social dialogue to ensure inclusive decision-making.
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Document type: Guide
Pedoman Mendorong Transisi Berkeadilan di Indonesia
The document outlines the principles of a just transition, drawing on international case studies from Germany, Canada, Sweden, the US, and Australia to inform Indonesia's approach. It identifies key challenges in Indonesia, such as the lack of centralized data on affected workers and the need for cross-sectoral coordination. The guide proposes specific actions for government, non-governmental actors, and businesses, and introduces the Energy Transition Mechanism Country Platform (ETM-CP) and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) as primary financial frameworks for Indonesia's energy shift.
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Document type: Guide
Toolkit to support policymakers in the process of co-designing just transition commitments and strategies
The document outlines a strategy for Colombia to manage its transition to a low-carbon economy while addressing high levels of poverty, inequality, and labor informality. It identifies the mining and fossil fuel sectors as the most vulnerable, representing 71% of exports and 500,000 formal jobs. The toolkit recommends establishing a Just Transition Committee within the Intersectoral Commission for Climate Change, enhancing social dialogue, and reforming the labor market to support workers' mobility and reskilling. It emphasizes the need for economic diversification in fossil-fuel-dependent regions and the mobilization of financial resources to close a funding gap estimated at 1.04% of GDP annually to meet NDC objectives.
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Document type: Guide
Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report
The Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report outlines a multi-scalar approach to building resilience, focusing on people, communities, urban systems, socio-ecological systems, and market systems. It emphasizes the transition from top-down measurement to co-produced evidence that integrates local and Indigenous knowledge with scientific data. The report identifies critical gaps in funding for climate resilience—noting that less than $50 billion is spent annually against needs of $160-340 billion—and advocates for gender-transformative approaches, integrated health and nutrition systems, and the use of mixed-methods to capture transformative, long-term outcomes rather than just short-term recovery.
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Document type: Report
2023–2027 STRATEGY
The IEJ 2023–2027 Strategy transitions the organisation from a 'start-up' to a 'consolidation' and 'growth' phase. It aims to challenge neoliberal economic orthodoxies through a research-policy-advocacy nexus, promoting heterodox and feminist economic analysis. The strategy identifies five key objectives: advancing inclusive macroeconomic frameworks, growing communities of practice for progressive economic thinking, supporting just transitions in response to the climate crisis and changing work, popularising economic justice policies, and strengthening internal organisational capacity.
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Document type: Report