Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has emphasised that the shift to cleaner energy should not come at the cost of jobs. He believes that workers must be actively included in the transformation process to ensure their livelihoods are protected and improved.
His remarks were made during the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group meeting in Cape Town, which concludes on Friday. The gathering is part of ongoing preparations for an upcoming energy summit focused on achieving a just energy transition, particularly within the African context.
Ramokgopa stressed that the energy transition should go beyond efforts to reduce carbon emissions and must also support broader development goals.
As countries work toward climate targets, he urged that the process prioritise reskilling the workforce, protecting existing jobs, and creating new industries that offer sustainable and decent employment.
With Africa being home to the youngest population, significant solar potential, and rapidly increasing energy needs, Ramokgopa pointed out that the continent seeks to be more than just a destination for energy investments. Instead, African nations want to take an active role in shaping the solutions that drive the global shift to clean energy.
He also underlined the importance of partnerships over handouts, asserting that Africa is not simply the last area for development but the next frontier for opportunity.
For the global south in particular, he said the energy transition must support industrial growth and broaden economic development.
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