JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa's just transition that protects workers and communities while scaling-up renewables to strengthen energy security is being held up as an example of climate mitigation advance by the UN ahead of Paris Agreement deadlines.

“International partnerships are signalling momentum, bringing together governments, public financiers, and private investors to support South Africa’s shift from coal to clean energy – growing from $8.5-billion to $11.6-billion,” the UN climate organisation stated in a media release to Mining Weekly on Monday, 15 September

As deadlines approach for Paris Agreement countries, African governments are being encouraged to present their new national climate plans as opportunities to supercharge economies and boost living standards across the continent.

"Strong new national climate plans are blueprints for stronger economies, more jobs and rising living standards, across all African nations, UN Climate Change executive secretary Simon Stiell stated in the release.

“Strong plans open the door to new industries, large-scale investment, more affordable clean energy accessible to all, and more resilient infrastructure, as climate disasters hit African nations harder each year.

“Africa is not just on the frontlines of climate impacts; it is also at the forefront of solutions. Right across the continent, we are already seeing massive potential and innovations which cut planet-heating pollution and build more climate-resilient economies.

“Strong new national climate plans are the key to converting that potential into real-economy outcomes at scale, including the millions of new jobs they create," added Stiell, who held the portfolio of Minister for Climate Resilience and the Environment of Grenada for five years.

The UN is calling on all countries to submit their new plans, formally called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, as soon as possible ahead of key milestones, including the UN Secretary General’s September Climate Summit and November COP30 in Brazil.

While September will be an important milestone, submissions will continue in the run-up to COP30, with each plan helping to limit global heating to 1.5 ⁰C above preindustrial levels and protect all people, while also unlocking jobs, growth, and economic benefits. 

“While particular responsibility rests with the largest economies, whose choices determine the global trajectory of emissions, it is essential that every nation puts forward its most ambitious plan, both to strengthen humanity's collective response and to drive each nation's own prosperity and security,” the release added.

AFRICA'S EXAMPLES

South Africa was positioned at the top of three Africa examples as a country with an NDC that shields working communities, amid solar and wind scaleup to assure continuous energy flow.

Nigeria, cited as the second Africa example, was described as advancing a whole-of-government and society approach, linking climate action to job creation, poverty reduction, and improved energy access.

More than 85-million Nigerians still lack electricity, making decentralised renewables critical.

In the West African country, large-scale solar is expected to generate 33 905 direct green jobs by 2030.

The micro-solar sector is already employing youth as energy officers and the Great Green Wall has restored more than five-million hectares.

Interestingly, extensive mangroves also provide carbon storage and flood protection.

With a population projected to surpass 400-million by 2050 and GDP already over $470-billion, Nigeria has distinctive potential to be a powerful leader in Africa’s green transition.

Its upcoming climate plan is being designed as a national investment strategy to generate millions of green jobs by 2035 and secure a strong share of the $2.2-trillion global clean energy market.

The transformation already underway takes in 170 solar minigrids which are already operational, bringing reliable electricity to nearly six-million people, while young entrepreneurs are driving innovation in recycling, clean transport, and sustainable agriculture.

Meanwhile, Morocco, the third Africa example, was described as an emerging regional renewable energy leader in that the Ouarzazate solar complex is among the world’s largest sun energy spaces. Moreover, the North African country is seen as a positive example of how national ambition can deliver clean power at scale.

Other UN Climate Change advances specified were the Climate Week in Ethiopia and the Adaptation Expo in Zambia, the showcasing at which resulted in domestic scale-up and continental replication of new climate solutions. During the week, Ethiopia announced its bid to host the COP32 UN Climate Conference in 2027 and at the Zambia event, Green Economy Ministry permanent secretary Douty Chibamba described climate change as “a matter of life and death for our people”, which follows Zambia’s 2023-2024 drought halving crop yields and more than halving hydropower electricity generation.