European politicians and diplomats met with officials and workers’ unions in South Africa’s coal belt on Wednesday.
The goal of these talks was to persuade local communities that transitioning to renewable energy from fossil fuels need not lead to economic hardship.
The discussions took place in Mpumalanga province, focusing on funding from wealthy nations for the energy transition.
This initiative aims to address the resistance from communities fearing an economic downturn as they shift away from coal.
At the meeting in Emalahleni, known as “the place of coal” in Zulu, union leaders expressed skepticism about the proposed transition.
They were particularly doubtful that job losses could be compensated by new opportunities in climate-friendly energy.
“I don’t think one meeting will persuade them,” said Elsebeth Krone, the Danish ambassador, in a statement to Reuters.
Denmark is one of the countries contributing to a $11.6 billion package designed to assist South Africa in shifting to cleaner energy sources.
Krone added, “Today was just one example of how to have this dialogue.”
Other countries involved in funding the program include Germany, Britain, France, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
These nations aim to help South Africa move away from coal in favor of its abundant solar and wind energy resources.
According to the watchdog Climate Transparency, South Africa emits more greenhouse gases than Britain, France, or Italy due to its heavy reliance on coal for electricity.
French ambassador to South Africa, David Martinon, highlighted the unsustainable nature of coal jobs during the discussions.
“Coal will be a thing of the past,” he stated, adding that France is preparing to issue a second loan to support the transition.
Currently, the coal industry employs over 90,000 workers, not including thousands of traders associated with coal mines and power stations.
“When all speeches are said and done, we need to see practical terms,” said Collen Mahlangu, a leader from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA).
Stine Leth Rasmussen, the Deputy Director General of the Danish Energy Agency, noted that Denmark’s Esbjerg port has successfully transitioned from oil-related jobs to become a major offshore wind hub. She expressed optimism that South Africa could lead renewable energy efforts on the continent, inspiring other nations to follow suit.
