Panellists at the launch of the Coalition
Yesterday marked the official launch of the National Gender Equal and Inclusive Just Transition Coalition (NGEIJTC) under the theme Power, Participation and Possibility – A Just Transition for All.
The event was a powerful reminder that a just transition is about more than climate action and economic transformation. It is about ensuring that those most affected by change have a voice in shaping the future.
In a thought-provoking keynote address, climate justice advocate and Black Girls Rising founder Xoliswa Fuyani challenged attendees with a question that set the tone for the day: “Who gets to imagine the future and who is expected to survive it?”
Her address unpacked what truly inclusive climate action looks like, asking critical questions about who is involved in decision-making and who still remains outside the room as progress is celebrated.
Earthlife Africa’s Makoma Lekalakala, addressing the attendees of the launch of the National Gender Equal and Inclusive Just Transition Coalition
Also speaking at the launch, NGEIJTC Steering Committee Chairperson and our Director, Makoma Lekalakala, highlighted the importance of working together towards a shared vision, noting that: “Everyone involved in the just transition is concerned about improving society’s well-being, particularly for women and other vulnerable members of society, so that they are not negatively impacted by the processes of what we call the just transition.”
The launch of the NGEIJTC represents a significant step towards a gender-responsive just transition in South Africa – one that recognises women and girls not only as participants, but as leaders and decision-makers in building a more equitable, climate-resilient future.
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