As South Africa implements a deal with Western countries to accelerate its phase-out of coal, the Minister of Environment Barbara Creecy has called on emerging economies to ensure that energy security and jobs are top priorities when making similar agreements.
"You can’t go from electricity to darkness," she said in an interview with Western media. "That’s not good for your economy, it’s not good for communities, it’s not good for your development trajectory."
Creecy said that countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Senegal, which also received concessional funds, should jump-start energy security before switching to alternative supplies.
The minister also called on developing countries to clarify the sources of public finance that will be made available to them for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The minister's remarks came against the backdrop of South Africa's implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership with France, Germany, UK, US and EU. The agreement, under which Western countries have pledged $8.8 billion in funding to get Pretoria off coal faster, includes, among other things, accelerating the closure of coal-fired power plants.
In addition, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reportedly expressed his opposition to Western pressure when he did not attend the Nairobi Climate Summit in early September. According to Kenyan media, the leader's absence was in protest against "pressure from some European partners" to transition to renewable energy and away from coal, which accounts for 80% of the country's energy.
Developed Countries Responsible for Climate Crisis
Minister Creecy also commented on the ongoing 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). She emphasized that African countries are focusing on adaptation at the COP28 talks in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, because historically, "the continent has contributed less than 2% to the accumulation of emissions that’s causing the current crisis" but has been hit hard.
She stressed that developing countries, especially on the African continent, are suffering from the climate crisis created by developed countries, which is recognized by the Paris Agreement.
"The Paris Agreement recognizes that developed countries have created the climate crisis, it recognizes that developed countries have their accumulated wealth as a result of the burning of fossil fuels, and it recognizes the responsibility of developed countries to contribute to the climate transitions of developing countries," Creecy noted.
COP28 kicked off on Thursday and will run through December 12. The summit brings together world leaders, global organizations, and stakeholders to negotiate and collaborate on efforts to address the climate crisis.