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The document details the transition of South African municipal electricity distribution from a monopoly to a distributed generation model, focusing on the adoption of rooftop solar PV. It highlights the role of the City of Cape Town as a pioneer in developing SSEG policies and tariffs, supported by GreenCape and the Western Cape Government. The study identifies six levers to drive this transition, including technical support, regulatory certainty, and new finance models, to prevent the 'utility death spiral' where municipalities lose revenue as customers switch to renewable energy. By October 2018, 22 of 25 electricity-distributing municipalities in the Western Cape allowed SSEG, with 18 having NERSA-approved feed-in tariffs.

The document argues that electric micro-mobility is commercially viable for South African last-mile delivery, particularly on high-frequency urban routes. While higher upfront costs (CAPEX) are a barrier, they can be mitigated through leasing, Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), and Electric Vehicle-as-a-Service (EVaaS) models. The brief highlights that E2Ws can achieve break-even within 7 to 24 months and reduce operating expenses by 30-50% per kilometre compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycles. To achieve significant emissions reductions of 40-60%, the document emphasizes integrating renewable energy into charging infrastructure to offset South Africa's coal-heavy grid. It also identifies the Western Cape's Atlantis SEZ as a developing hub for local micro-EV manufacturing to improve supply chain resilience and affordability.

The report analyzes South Africa's renewable energy landscape, divided into utility-scale, commercial/industrial, and residential segments. It highlights the success of the REIPPPP in procuring over 5,000 MW and reducing tariffs, while noting that the lack of an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) creates investor uncertainty. The Western Cape is positioned as a potential green economy hub, leveraging initiatives like the Atlantis Special Economic Zone and the SARETEC training center.

The report finds that G20 countries are not on track to meet Paris Agreement goals, with energy-related CO2 emissions increasing again in 2017 and 82% of energy supply still coming from fossil fuels. It highlights significant gaps in sectoral actions—particularly in power, transport, and industry—and notes that fossil fuel subsidies in the G20 nearly doubled between 2007 and 2016. While some countries are implementing 'just transition' initiatives for workers, others lack dialogue or action.

The report outlines the South African utility-scale renewable energy landscape, focusing on the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019. It highlights a significant transition from coal-dominated generation toward wind and solar PV, with an estimated potential market value of R418 billion for these technologies and distributed generation. Key opportunities include the continuation of REIPPPP bid windows, increased local manufacturing of components, and the growth of utility-scale battery storage. However, the sector faces barriers such as Eskom's financial instability, regulatory uncertainty, and the complexities of unbundling the national utility.

The report asserts that the combined fortunes of the world's wealthiest individuals could fund a total transition to renewable energy in the Global South by 2030. It estimates that $5.15 trillion is required to meet the energy demands of Africa, Latin America, and non-OECD Asia (excluding India and China). The authors argue that the energy transition must go beyond substituting fuel sources to include democratic ownership of resources and the dismantling of corporate power to address the intersecting crises of climate change and extreme inequality.

The document assesses the transition to low-carbon transport in the SADC region, focusing on the synergy between e-mobility and the power sector. Using the South Africa TIMES (SATIM) model, it compares four scenarios: Fossil-Car, Fossil-Efficiency, Electric-Car, and Eco-Mobility. The analysis finds that while modal shifts (road-to-rail and transit-oriented development) significantly reduce energy demand, the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is the primary lever for rapid GHG emission reductions. The paper highlights that a transition to EVs would eliminate the need for new crude-oil refinery capacity in South Africa but would increase electricity demand by approximately 20% by 2050. It also explores the role of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCEVs) for heavy corridor freight and the potential for a regional value chain leveraging the mineral resources of the DRC and Zambia.

The SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration 2022 outlines youth-led demands for climate justice and sustainable development, specifically targeting South Africa's energy transition and the Global South's vulnerabilities. It calls for the urgent implementation of the Just Transition Framework, the removal of the 100MW limit for renewable energy supply from Independent Power Producers, and the integration of youth and marginalized genders into policy writing. Beyond climate, the declaration advocates for the decolonization of African educational curricula, the protection of informal workers, and the eradication of the 'pink tax'. It concludes with pledges from both youth and educators to foster leadership and civic engagement to achieve a more equitable society.

In 2025, the BRICS nations experienced their largest power capacity expansion on record, characterized by a 'split transition' where both fossil fuels and renewables reached historic highs. While 125 GW of new coal, oil, and gas capacity was added, solar and wind additions totaled 497 GW. This growth was heavily concentrated in China and India, where record renewable deployment began to reduce coal-fired generation despite continued coal capacity expansion. In contrast, other BRICS members like Russia and Iran remain overwhelmingly fossil-based, while Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, and the UAE show varying degrees of renewable growth and fossil fuel reliance.

The 'Three Ps' framework (Principles, Policies and laws, and Practicalities) outlines a community-centric approach to the Just Energy Transition in Africa. It argues that for a transition to be truly 'just,' it must move beyond simple decarbonization to address historical injustices, ensure energy democracy, and protect the land and human rights of local communities. The guide emphasizes the necessity of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), the implementation of community-owned renewable energy (CORE) models, and the provision of climate finance in the form of grants rather than loans to avoid further debt for Global South countries.

The report analyses Africa's development path to 2043, comparing a 'Current Path' baseline with various sectoral scenarios and a 'Combined' scenario. While the Current Path shows steady growth, it fails to meet Agenda 2063 targets, leaving 19.1% of the population in extreme poverty. The Combined scenario demonstrates that coordinated reforms in governance, trade (AfCFTA), education, and infrastructure could raise GDP (MER) to US$8.87 trillion, increase GDP per capita (PPP) to US$8,040, and reduce extreme poverty to 10.9%. Key findings highlight the critical role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and governance as the most transformative levers for income growth and poverty reduction. The report also details a significant energy gap, where demand is projected to outpace production by 2043 despite massive solar potential, and a health transition marked by a 'double burden' of persisting communicable diseases and rapidly rising non-communicable diseases.

A letter from Greenpeace Africa to South Africa's Minister of Energy, Jeff Radebe, dated 7 March 2018, requesting a meeting to discuss the country's energy trajectory and the update of the Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) and Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).

The report examines the operationalisation of Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), highlighting the necessity of country-led frameworks that integrate climate goals with socio-economic development. Using South Africa as a primary case study, it discusses the gap between international funding pledges and actual transition costs, the need for reduced capital costs, and the critical role of high-level political coordination and philanthropic support in building institutional capacity.

The guide identifies key barriers to Just Transitions—including institutional capacity gaps, structural labour market vulnerabilities, and limited financing—and offers a strategic roadmap for policymakers. It argues that Just Transitions must move beyond a narrow focus on the energy sector to become a holistic, cross-ministerial strategy integrated into national development plans. Key recommendations include adopting needs-based capacity building, establishing robust social protection systems, and shifting international climate finance toward a more participatory, social-justice-oriented model.

The South African Climate Finance Landscape 2023 report finds that while annual tracked climate finance reached an all-time high of R131 billion between 2019 and 2021, this remains significantly below the estimated annual needs of R334 billion to R535 billion. The landscape is heavily dominated by domestic private sector debt, with clean energy receiving the vast majority of funding, while adaptation and low-carbon transport remain severely underfunded.

The document analyzes the transition of French foreign policy in Africa from 'la Francafrique'—characterized by personal ties to corrupt elites in former colonies—to a strategy of 'partnership' between equal nations. This shift involves a move toward multilateralism through the European Union and a strategic pivot toward new markets and power-brokers, specifically South Africa. Key drivers for this change include the 'Abidjan doctrine' on economic governance, the devaluation of the CFA franc, and a desire to move beyond a relationship driven by colonial guilt. The text highlights South Africa's role as France's leading economic partner in Africa, noting cooperation in military training in the Central African Republic and nuclear energy projects involving the company Areva.

The report argues that African cities face a critical choice between unsustainable 'business-as-usual' urban sprawl and a '3CR' model (compact, connected, clean, and resilient). Using economic modelling for 35 major cities in Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa, it demonstrates that while incremental investments of US$280 billion are needed by 2050, the net present value of benefits is significantly positive. It identifies systemic barriers—including poor municipal creditworthiness and restrictive national laws—and proposes four national enabling mechanisms and six specific financial instruments to unlock private and public capital.

The Life After Coal campaign expresses support for rolling out renewable energy and battery storage from the 2019 IRP but strongly opposes the use of the energy crisis to introduce gas into the electricity mix. The campaign argues that gas is not a transitional fuel and poses risks of stranded assets and higher costs for consumers. It further criticises the potential for privatising new generation and the lack of specific support for rooftop solar for poor South Africans whose housing may not support such installations. The document also warns that Eskom's repurposing plans favour expensive gas turbines over low-cost solar power.

The document outlines a projected economic transition for Africa by 2043, moving from raw commodity exports to a more balanced profile of manufactured goods and services. It emphasizes the role of urbanisation as a catalyst for growth, provided it is supported by resilient infrastructure. The 'Combined scenario' predicts a strategic rebalancing where manufacturing gains GDP share and agriculture becomes more commercialised and productive, despite a declining share of total GDP. Key enablers include ICT, renewable energy investment, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Global Energy Monitor identifies nearly 2.7 million coal miners worldwide, with the majority in Asia. The report warns that 414,200 jobs could be lost by 2035 and 990,200 by 2050 due to the industry's own 'life of mine' closure schedules, regardless of climate policies. It highlights that current climate pledges cover only 6% of the thermal coal workforce, leaving millions vulnerable. The report emphasizes the need for just transition mechanisms, such as the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), and suggests bridging employment through mine reclamation and renewable energy repurposing.