Just Energy Transition in the Media – February 13, 2024
We round up the latest just energy transition news stories in the media.
The Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI) Palembang, the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) and the Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ), have teamed up to create the Just Journalist Network South Sumatra. This new alliance will better raise public awareness about the energy transition through its quality journalistic work. Many journalists are still unfamiliar with aspects of the energy transition, including its economic, social, and environmental impacts, and this initiative aims to increase the reporting among local media.
New research published in the Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy highlights the impact that coal mine closures will have on mining communities in the country’s fossil-dependent regions. Five coal-fired power plants and 15 coal mines are set to close by 2030, with another 4 plants and 23 mines due to close by 2040, potentially impacting the livelihoods of 2.5 million people, most of them in Mpumalanga. In the region’s coal-mining communities in western Mpumalanga and northwestern KwaZulu-Natal, 37% of people currently live below the poverty line. In rural villages dependent on coal mining, this rises to 57%.
In 2022, the Indian state of Jharkhand became the first in the country to establish a just transition task force that would focus on reducing dependence on fossil fuels and promoting green energy. In the 16 months since the taskforce was unveiled, however, not a single coal mine has been formally closed in the region, according to a Right to Information response from Central Coalfield Limited. In fact, the last year has seen the introduction of new coal projects, with coal production in Jharkhand expected to increase from 165.38 million tonnes in 2022–2023 to 263.34 million tonnes by 2025–2026.
A position paper launched by the Indonesian NGO community has rejected the energy transition mechanism applied to Cirebon Coal-Fired Power Plant Unit 1 in Indonesia, denouncing it as a form of greenwashing by major corporations. The paper criticises the lack of meaningful civil society participation and transparency in decision-making processes regarding the project’s decommissioning. Key objections include the delayed retirement of Cirebon 1 until 2035, the potential continuation of profits for large corporations through repurposing options, the contradictory operation of Cirebon Unit 2, and the perceived exemption of corporations from responsibility for environmental and social impacts.
A year after the Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone was declared in the Australian state of New South Wales—the fifth such zone designated in a drive to replace the state’s ageing coal-fired power stations—not a single project is yet in the pipeline. The zone was forecast to create more than 8,000 jobs and help transition coal miners into new employment. EnergyCo, the authority in charge of delivering the renewable energy zones, is reportedly still working on upgrading the Illawarra transmission. It has, however, faced local opposition, which has created some investor uncertainty.
In its latest quarterly meeting, the Monitoring Commission for the Framework Agreement on Just Transition in Coal Mining and Sustainable Development from 2019 to 2027 reported positive outcomes from just transition efforts in Spain. In one example, 95% of individuals involved in employment support programmes aimed at assisting coal-industry workers affected by the transition have found new jobs. Furthermore, new calls for aid and ongoing projects to support environmental and social infrastructure have been discussed, emphasising the commitment to job creation and community development in mining regions.
A new wind farm unveiled in Kayser, West Virginia, as part of a move to transition the region away from coal, has garnered mixed reactions from residents who have relied on the fossil fuel for generations. Although renewable energy investments have been directed to states like West Virginia, the promised “just transition” to new job opportunities in renewables has been limited due to challenges such as the mismatch between coal-mining locations and renewable-energy potential, as well as insufficient focus on workforce development. Despite these challenges, training opportunities in wind energy technology do exist, reflecting both practical and idealistic motivations.
A Czech study raises concerns about the administrative complexities and potential inefficiencies of the Just Transition Fund (JTF) designed to aid coal regions in Europe. Despite the fund’s aim to assist disadvantaged areas like those in the Czech Republic with heavy coal-mining industries, challenges such as strict deadlines and limited national capacity threaten its effectiveness, prompting criticism of the European Commission’s creation of new funds like the JTF. Nonetheless, some officials note positive aspects, including increased regional engagement and discussions on development priorities.
As a climate reporter, assessing the fairness of the energy transition usually involves weighing the creation of sustainable “green jobs” against the number of “brown jobs” that disappear. However, this can be challenging in informal economies like Bangladesh. Here, recognising the broader notion of livelihoods becomes crucial. Beyond reporting, the media also plays a pivotal role as a catalyst for crucial conversations, amplifying diverse perspectives from stakeholders, experts, and marginalised communities.
A new book on U.S. labour groups and the struggle for climate justice by Todd E. Vachon, assistant professor at Rutgers University, explores the challenges and dynamics at play in building a labour-climate movement that can successfully win a pro-worker clean energy economy. The book showcases local-level victories and plans, which can in turn generate ideas for others to adopt in their respective arenas. This includes the United Mine Workers of America’s plan for a just transition (Preserving Coal Country), which details a vision to provide a robust safety net for displaced miners, tuition for reskilling, and targeted infrastructure rehabilitation in coalfield communities.
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