By Obiabin Onukwugha
A non-governmental organization, thr African Climate Justice Collective, ACJC, has called on the South African Government to backup its words with actions and commit to Just Transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
The ACJC is made up of 27 movement-based and allied organizations and partners movements of women, peasant communities, African citizens and more, that are fighting for climate justice, and standing in solidarity with the people of the world, especially those in the front lines of the impacts of the climate crisis.
The call came as the South African government recently announced that it has approved the procurement of 2500MW of new coal-based electricity.
Reacting to the development, the ACJC regretted that the move is coming despite the fact that cheaper, cleaner renewable energy is available in the country.
The ACJC in a post on its verified X handle at the weekend noted that burning coal for energy is the largest single source of CO2 emissions in the world, and its extraction, processing and burning all generate intense levels of pollution and destructive impacts for communities, workers and the environment.
The post read in part: “The government has approved the procurement of 2500MW of new coal-based electricity. This is despite the fact that cheaper, cleaner renewable energy is available.
“Burning coal for energy is the largest single source of CO2 emissions in the world, and its extraction, processing and burning all generate intense levels of pollution and destructive impacts for communities, workers and the environment.
“But the government’s actions prove that these are merely words on paper with no actions to back it up.
“The ACJC calls on the government of South Africa to backup their words with actions and commit to Just Transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”
It would be recalled that the South African Government earlier made commitments to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 34 per cent by 2020 and 42per cent by 2025.
Meanwhile, the ACJC has also kicked against the move to allocate lands for carbon credits in Port Loko, Sierra Leone.
The body in a reaction via a post on its verified X handle at the weekend called on the government of Sierra Leone to address the matter and secure the land rights of their people.
The ACJC said the call became imperative as its recent findings shows that the inhabitants of Port Loko region are the latest victims of land grabbing for carbon credit.
The post read: “Recent findings shows that the inhabitants of Port Loko region of Sierra Leone, are the latest victims of land grabbing for carbon credit.
“This is a huge climate justice violation and the #ACJC speaks strongly against climate injustice, stands in support of the Port Loko people.
“We call on the government of Sierra Leone to address this matter and secure the land rights of their people.”
