Zimasa Vazi is the senior manager, Stakeholder Relations of the Presidential Climate Commission.
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Zimasa Vazi
Climate change is the largest, most pervasive threat to the natural environment and human societies the world has ever experienced. Numerous assessment reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have consistently described how observed and predicted changes in climate will adversely affect billions of people and the ecosystems, natural resources, and physical infrastructure upon which they depend.
March, being Human Rights Month, is a time to reflect on our hard-won freedoms and the ongoing struggle for environmental, social, and economic justice and consider how human rights intersect with one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change.
South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon future can be a powerful instrument for economic and social justice. But if mishandled, it can widen existing inequalities and reinforce the structural marginalisation of the poor. In Mpumalanga, where coal mining has been the primary driver of economic activity and a source of livelihoods for many communities, the transition to a green economy requires careful and inclusive navigation so as not to leave workers and the vulnerable without any means of income and, thus, survival.
Section 24 of our Constitution enshrines the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being, as well as the right to dignity, equality, and fair labour practices. The Constitution further provides for several socio-economic rights. Among others, it guarantees the right to adequate housing (section 26(1)), food and water (section 27(1)(b)), social security (section 27(1)(c)), and basic education (section 29(1)). Broadly speaking, these rights entitle people to the material goods necessary for them to live in conditions consistent with human dignity and reach their full potential.
The impact of climate change-induced disasters and extreme weather events threatens these rights. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and changing rainfall patterns are leading to food insecurity, water shortages, migration, and soil erosion, amongst others.
Since the Paris Agreement in 2015, there have been growing commitments and plans to implement the energy transition. Yet, concerns have emerged about how, in their implementation - such as the sourcing of critical transition minerals - may further exacerbate human rights abuses, such as land grabs, forced displacements, child labour, modern slavery, discrimination, environmental pollution, and others.
The energy transition cannot replicate or create new forms of human rights and environmental abuses, including poverty, corruption, and conflict risks. The just energy transition drive must be consistent with human rights obligations and commitments, including the realisation of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG13) on climate change mitigation and adaptation, and with the Paris Agreement.
Towns like Emalahleni in Mpumalanga, where coal mining and power generation dominate the economy, are already experiencing the adverse effects of pollution, leading to severe health problems such as respiratory diseases. Despite broad consensus on the need for a just transition, there are significant obstacles that must be overcome. The coal industry employs approximately 90 000 people directly, with many more indirectly reliant on coal-related industries. A poorly managed transition could lead to job losses, increased poverty, and social unrest.
A just transition prioritises workers, communities, and marginalised groups. Key principles, as expressed in the Just Transition Framework, include:
To ensure that South Africa’s transition is truly just and upholds human rights, we need to strengthen social dialogue and participation. Workers, communities, and civil society must be active participants in shaping transition policies. Mechanisms for transparent and continuous dialogue should be strengthened at local, provincial, and national levels.
The just transition is not just about moving from high-carbon-emitting industries to a low-carbon future - it is about ensuring a fairer, more inclusive society where economic opportunities are accessible to all. If done right, it can help redress historical injustices, create sustainable livelihoods, and uphold the constitutional rights of all South Africans.
Robust social protection measures, including income support, should be expanded to cushion the impacts of economic shifts. South Africa must increase and effectively deploy climate finance to support just transition initiatives. International partners, development banks, and private investors should align their funding with human rights and equity considerations. We must also facilitate economic diversification in coal-dependent regions to create sustainable and dignified jobs.
As we commemorate Human Rights Month, we must advance policy coherence and ensure that energy, environmental, and investment policies are collaboratively developed and protect human rights—demonstrating that climate justice and human rights are not competing, but complementary.
Zimasa Vazi is the senior manager, Stakeholder Relations of the Presidential Climate Commission.
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