South Africa

On 13 May CERIC with the School of Politics and International Studies hosted a workshop that brought together academics, and union representatives from Germany, South Africa and the UK. The event addressed workers’ experiences of transitions to tackle the climate crisis and was an opportunity to share insights from the different countries and lessons learned. As South Africa is also in the early stages of its energy transition, the workshop was also an important chance to build networks of solidarity with fellow trade unions. See more here.

This report maps out the terrain of climate policy in South Africa and, in particular, the country’s
promotion of a “just transition” toward netzero. At the centre of the planetary crisis generated by fossil
capitalism, the Minerals Energy Complex (MEC) presents a source of existential threat to humanity
(through its environmental devastation), as well as a source of wealth and security for vested interests.

Africa is the continent hardest hit by climate change and yet the least responsible for it. South Africa is an outlier on the continent as the 12th largest polluter in the world. And yet, it is also at the forefront of diplomatic demands for climate reparations from the
Global North.