About three-quarters of the African population is expected to be under the age of 35 by 2030. Tides of change in South African history have been led by this exact group — monumental events such as the Soweto uprising and even #FeesMustFall are some that have left an impression on our society. SA’s youth is bold. So, a transition towards a cleaner and greener SA cannot be considered just, without the youth being empowered and taken along.
So far, the youth have felt excluded from this journey. At the presidential climate commission’s two-day multistakeholder conference on the just transition, youth representatives expressed the sentiment that the views of business appear to outweigh those of society and people at the literal and metaphorical coalface of climate change.
In this respect, SA is not unlike other countries undergoing transitioning. Research by Generation Climate Europe has shown that the youth in the EU has also not been sufficiently engaged, particularly at the stage when just-transition frameworks are drafted. Youth are typically engaged with at the feedback stage, limiting the possibility for meaningful engagement and authentic ownership of solutions.
SA is a coal-reliant country and the largest carbon emitter in Africa. Unlike other top emitters such as China, the US and Japan, SA’s reliance has not equated to the advancement of the economy through industrial and manufacturing output. SA exports 25% of its coal production, while using most of the balance on electricity generation.
Despite the launch of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme, renewables still only account for only 16% of SA’s energy mix, most of the rest being derived from coal. Furthermore, heavy reliance on the coal industry and its exports puts the economy at risk as divestment in the sector inevitably gathers pace.
Provinces such as Mpumalanga are even more dependent on the coal sector. Three-quarters of coal production and electricity generation takes place in the province across four municipalities: Govan Mbeki, Steve Tshwete, Emalahleni and Msukaligwa. While the sector sustains these areas economically, the negative implications on the health and environment have been observed first-hand by the youth — the next generation to face a fast-deteriorating situation.
Youth have become increasingly active in these matters, over and above their frustrations and protests regarding unemployment levels. Whether this energy is channelled into pragmatic solutions or allowed to culminate in social and political clashes, depends on them feeling heard.
In 2021, coal mines employed 80,000 people, with the value chain sustaining 150,000 jobs for workers with an average of three dependents. Job preservation through the transition is pertinent for the youth of SA, who already bear the burden of unemployment. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2022, the unemployment rate was 63.9% for those aged 15-24 compared with the national rate of 34.5%.
While the projected effects on at-risk groups are concerning, there are opportunities for economic growth and job creation. The transition towards renewables has the potential to create 4.7-million jobs by 2050 across Africa. These jobs must be filled by our young labour force, highlighting its critical role for the success of our just transition.
Youth have become increasingly active in these matters, over and above their frustrations and protests regarding unemployment levels
Decarbonising energy systems can only be achieved through adequate investment in research & development to establish innovative solutions and technologies. Research, particularly by renowned economist Mariana Mazzucato, has shown that governments have a key role to play in that regard. Most revolutionary innovations that have fuelled the dynamics of capitalism — from railroads, to the internet, to modern-day nanotechnology and pharmaceuticals — trace back to the early and “entrepreneurial” investments of Western governments into relevant research.
The government can act as a force for innovation and change, not only “derisking” the economic landscape for risk-averse private actors, but also boldly leading the way, with a clear and courageous vision. This involves empowering youth to innovate in the green economy by providing research & development capital, as well as incentivising private investors and venture capitalists to do the same.
The youth are well-placed for innovation as digital natives. They have access to more information than ever before and are not only comfortable with, but enthused by new technology. Offering them opportunities to participate in innovation increases their ownership of solutions and future innovation.
Youth-led innovations are also often inspired by local challenges, but typically get less funding. This challenge has been recognised by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Cape Town, which has partnered with the SAB Foundation to create a student seed fund for social innovators and entrepreneurs to drive innovation among the youth.
A key aspect of the just transition is the repurposing of jobs in the coal value chain. The critical enabler for that is skills development. It is important for the youth across various levels to be upskilled and adequately equipped for the future of work, particularly as the green economy and digital economy continue to evolve.
The CEO of Naspers, Phuthi Mahanyele, similarly identified the advancement of digital skills for the youth to be a critical enabler for SA’s development at the South African Investment Conference in March. The framework drafted by the presidential climate commission also outlines the need for pupils in basic education to start gaining an understanding of climate change. Higher education should be bolstered to equip graduates and school-leavers for new jobs in a climate-resilient and net-zero society.
Partnerships are key. Our education system may benefit from collaboration with green organisations, civil society and youth and environmental groups. This will ensure that pupils across all levels have access to climate-change knowledge. It is imperative for civil society, particularly representing the voice of the youth, to begin aligning its programmes towards a net-zero society.
Inclusive and participatory decision-making structures can ensure that implemented policies are aligned with and championed by affected stakeholders. Co-creation with the youth also improves their understanding and exposure of the green economy. This improves the possibilities of youth implementation and ownership in the transition, long after older generations have drafted initial frameworks.
The just-transition brief says “working-class communities in coal-dependent districts [must] ultimately gain in terms of prosperity, collective agency and economic equality”. The transition is more than coal vs renewables, it is an opportunity to bring prosperity to a youth that has long been disempowered. Let us not forget that we are crafting a future that will become their reality.
• More is a consultant to Impact Investing SA. Joshi is lead secretariat of Impact Investing SA and senior project manager: innovative finance at the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
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