Frontiers in Sustainable Cities Sec. Cities in the Global South Volume 4 - 2022

South Africa has had an extraordinarily heavy reliance on coal to fuel its economy, and it is one of the highest carbon dioxide emitters per capita globally. The article draws on international and South African evidence of the effects and responses to mine closure, regional resilience theory and evolutionary economic geography theory to analyse the implications and prospects for economic renewal as the coal industry winds down.

Key Findings/Recommendations: Transitioning the Mpumalanga region from its virtual mono-economy based on coal is challenging. Therefore, creating an environment that is fair and transparent for investors is critical. Processes may need to be put in place to ensure that the ambitious goal of transitioning from coal to renewables can be achieved, finances and management well-targeted, and a sense of security given to outside investors to help fund the transition, but also broader economic diversification. In parallel to ensure the “transition is just” mechanisms also need to be put in place, by the state and the investors, to ensure that those citizens unable to transition are empowered and engaged in their community to stem the risk of the inevitable frustration and social disturbance that exclusion from the economy and living with declining services creates.

Read online: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2022.1059312/full