09 November, Johannesburg — Responding to Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe’s comments denying the urgency of a just transition at the African Energy Week conference, Greenpeace Africa Climate and Energy Campaigner Thandile Chinyavanhu has said:
“Minister Mantashe’s comments reflect the fossil fuel industry’s broader disregard of the daily realities of people living in coal impacted regions such as Mpumalanga. The fact that the Minister makes no mention of the ongoing negotiations at COP26 in Glasgow shows that the Minister, like the rest of the industry and its lobby, is out of touch. But the science is clear: we are in a climate emergency. We must take drastic action which favours people over profits. The more there is a delay in undertaking a just transition, the more people suffer unnecessarily.
The best and most immediate solution to South Africa’s problems – including load shedding and skyrocketing unemployment – is a just transition to renewable energy. It’s that simple. There is no more time for fossil fuels and South Africa can not be led by fossil fools.”
ENDS
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Greenpeace Africa Press Desk: [email protected]
Chris Vlavianos,
Greenpeace Africa Communications Officer,
+27798837036, [email protected]
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