The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has stated that the Just Energy Transition (JET) framework does not adequately address gender inequalities. The PCC emphasizes the need for gender equity to be prioritized in further planning processes within the JET, with a focus on implementation.
- Climate change exacerbates existing inequalities and increases the vulnerability of women, marginalized groups, and underrepresented populations. The PCC highlights that traditional mechanisms for coping with climate stressors often come at the expense of women and girls due to resource constraints.
- The PCC aims to facilitate a gender-responsive climate strategy that empowers women as climate leaders. It is engaging with stakeholders to promote gender equality, social inclusion, and the participation of women in sustainable economic opportunities.
- The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women program specialist, Ayanda Mvimbi, stresses the importance of articulating gender targets for black women’s participation in the JET Investment Plan. She also suggests that financial institutions offer more solutions to support emerging women-owned enterprises.
- Kumi Naidoo, founder of Africans Rising for Justice, Peace and Dignity, states that the JET initially focused on ensuring that workers in pollutive industries were not punished by the transition to a greener economy, but it failed to consider gender inclusivity. He emphasizes the need to consider the impact on women who were dependent on economic opportunities around these industries.
- Naidoo recommends initiatives such as decentralizing solar microgrids in rural areas to empower women who may be displaced by the JET. He also suggests targeted skills programs that consider women’s existing capabilities and education.
- Julia Taylor, a researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, emphasizes that the JET should recognize and value the work that women are already doing, such as providing healthcare, food, and childcare. She suggests focusing on affordable healthcare, childcare, and addressing electricity access and affordability.
- Taylor recommends conducting a time use survey to understand the extent of unpaid care work and informal work, which is often not captured in formal employment surveys.
- Dr. Rebecca Maserumule from the Department of Science and Innovation highlights the need to understand why there are few women in the pipeline for employment in many sectors. She emphasizes the importance of creating supportive ecosystems around skills and employment pipelines.
- Dorah Marema from the South African Local Government Association stresses that women are often the frontline responders to the negative impacts of climate change and should be included in policy discussions. Input from women in rural communities should be incorporated into action plans.
- The JET should involve the entire society and address aspects such as unpaid labor and wasteful practices, according to Matthews Hlabane from Greenpeace. He believes that ordinary women on the ground have the power to influence the future if their voices are harnessed.
- Rabelani Tshikalanke from the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure suggests that addressing women’s peripheral position in the economy requires access to affordable housing, markets, upskilling in the green economy, and technological infrastructure.
- Thandiwe Matthews from the nonprofit Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung calls for the JET to provide an opportunity to reconceptualize policies and improve social protection systems to remediate gender inequalities and advance human rights and social justice.