Addressing climate goals and the SDGs through a just energy transition? Empirical evidence from Germany and South Africa

In striving to achieve the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda, governments have the opportunity to implement their climate and sustainability goals more coherently. Such coherence requires the coordination of interdependent policies across different policy fields, sectors and actors. This paper explores how governments design and implement synergic solutions to concomitantly achieve both international agendas. With the empirical cases of Germany and South Africa, we investigate two independent approaches to the synergic solution of a just energy transition, whereby countries aim to phase out coal as a means to tackle climate change while also ensuring that the achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is not hindered. Methodologically, we apply a deductive qualitative approach consisting of literature review, semi-structured interviews, and content analysis. To that end, we examine relevant policies and institutional arrangements by applying a combined conceptual framework of energy justice and just transition in both countries. We find major challenges in overcoming environmental, economic and social burdens of the coal phase-out, especially related to jobs and inequality (SDGs 8, 10) and the Water-Energy-Food-Land nexus (SDGs 2, 6, 7, 15). Through the selection of Germany and South Africa, we illustrate how countries with different political, social and economic backgrounds strive to manage such a transition. Our developed framework and case-studies’ findings point towards important considerations when designing just energy transition pathways, such as ensuring inclusiveness in decision-making, thoroughly assessing social, economic and environmental impacts, and adequately coordinating across different actors and the local, provincial and national levels.

为落实《巴黎协定》与《2030年议程》，各国政府可更具连贯性地推进气候与可持续发展目标落地。达成此种连贯性，需协调不同政策领域、部门与行为体间相互依存的各项政策。本研究旨在探讨各国政府如何设计并实施协同解决方案，以同步达成上述两项国际议程的目标。本研究以德国与南非为实证案例，探究公平能源转型协同解决方案的两种独立路径：两国均以逐步淘汰煤炭作为应对气候变化的手段，同时确保不会阻碍其他可持续发展目标（Sustainable Development Goals，SDGs）的实现。在方法论层面，本研究采用演绎式定性研究方法，涵盖文献综述、半结构化访谈与内容分析三类研究手段。为此，本研究结合能源正义与公平转型的复合概念框架，对两国的相关政策与制度安排展开考察分析。研究发现，在化解煤炭淘汰进程带来的环境、经济与社会负担方面存在诸多重大挑战，尤其涉及就业与公平议题（对应可持续发展目标8、10），以及水-能源-粮食-土地关联系统（对应可持续发展目标2、6、7、15）。通过选取德国与南非作为案例样本，本研究展示了政治、社会与经济背景迥异的国家如何推进此类转型进程。本研究构建的分析框架与案例研究结论，为公平能源转型路径的设计提供了重要参考方向：例如需确保决策过程的包容性、全面评估社会、经济与环境影响，以及充分协调不同行为体与地方、省级及国家级层面的工作。