Assessing coal mine closures and mining community profiles for the 'just transition' in South Africa

Overview

Global climate concerns are driving a "just transition" from fossil fuels, notably leading to coal mine closures in South Africa. This paper identifies vulnerable coal mining communities by synthesizing existing literature, data, and stakeholder insights to create detailed community profiles. It highlights critical vulnerability indicators, including high unemployment, pervasive poverty, and deep dependence on mining. The research aims to provide a robust framework to support these communities through the transition, ensuring that socio-economic impacts are mitigated and no one is left behind in the shift to a cleaner energy future.

Recommendations

Coal mine closures, driven by the global just transition, pose significant socio-economic challenges to South African mining communities. It is crucial to systematically assess and identify the vulnerabilities of these communities, which are often characterized by high unemployment, poverty, and dependence on mining for livelihoods. Community profiling, incorporating diverse data and stakeholder insights, is essential for understanding these complex vulnerabilities. The research provides a vital framework for developing targeted interventions and support mechanisms, aiming to ensure a truly just transition that addresses socio-economic impacts and avoids exacerbating existing inequalities within these affected regions.

Publisher: Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

Date: June 2023

Click here or follow this link: https://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/jsaimm/v123n6/07.pdf