Protesters in Mpumalanga, South Africa’s coal heartland, have rejected the government’s latest fossil fuel-heavy energy plan, calling instead for a shift to clean, safe, and affordable power. Led by the Climate Justice Coalition, over 100 people marched to demand a just energy transition. The demonstrators criticised the government’s draft Integrated Resource Plan for favouring fossil fuels, which they argue will perpetuate pollution and harm low-income households, and condemned the lack of investment in renewable energy, calling instead for public-owned renewable energy initiatives.

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) has emphasised the need for a “gender-responsive” approach to climate action planning at the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women held in the United States. PCW officer-in-charge Khay Ann Magundayao-Borlado urged PCW member-states to ensure that decision-making processes are inclusive and highlighted the importance of women’s rights in climate action. She stressed the need for a just transition that protects women’s health, well-being, and livelihoods, while providing opportunities for green jobs and entrepreneurship.

North Macedonia has secured EUR 85 million in funding from the Climate Investment Fund (CIF) for its Just Energy Transition Investment Platform launched at COP 28, aimed at transitioning from coal to clean energy. This investment, part of a larger EUR 3 billion plan, underscores the country’s commitment to a socially just and inclusive transition. The funding includes investment in human capital, promoting skill development and alternative livelihoods to support the roughly 5,000 workers and communities directly and indirectly affected by coal phase-out.

Chile and Spain have signed a collaboration agreement to promote a just ecological transition. The alliance, formalised during an official visit to Chile by the Spanish prime minister, aims to reduce carbon emissions, minimise impacts on communities, and maximise employment opportunities and social justice. The collaboration involves sharing knowledge and experiences, organising seminars on ecological transition, collaborating on strategy design, developing methodological tools for monitoring, and analysing socio-demographic data to observe the progress of ecological transition processes.

Community activists in Sumatra are demanding a transition to clean energy and the retirement of coal-fired power plants. At a protest organised by Kamisan Padang Action and Bright Sumatra Activists for Clean Energy in front of West Sumatra’s Grand Mosque, they highlighted the adverse impacts of coal-fired power plants on health, the economy, and the climate, and advocated for immediate action. Concerns were raised about environmental pollution and negligence in power plant operations, with a call for transparency and accountability from the government.

Colombia has officially committed to joining the Global Employment and Social Protection Accelerator for Just Transitions, a joint initiative led by the UN Secretary General. This initiative aims to design policies and strategies for job creation and social protection, two vital elements of a just transition. The country’s endorsement followed consultations and the establishment of a national committee to support the programme’s implementation. The accelerator will focus on developing integrated policies, mobilising resources, and enhancing cooperation to achieve universal social protection and inclusive employment.

South Africa has released a just energy transition grants register to track grant allocation from the country’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). Unveiled at COP 28, the register reveals that over R 10 billion has been allocated—more than initially stipulated in the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan—but there are concerns about transparency and funding impact. In particular, a significant portion has reportedly gone to foreign entities, raising questions about the real beneficiaries, and more than half the funds were disbursed before the public consultation on the investment plan took place in November 2022. Civil society and workers’ unions are also largely overlooked, with minimal funding for social protection and skills training.

At the European Summit of Regions and Cities, Spain’s Minister of Finance of the Principality of Asturias, Guillermo Peláez, emphasised the long-term nature of the ecological transition, especially in regions like Asturias that have a strong industrial and mining history. Peláez called for the Just Transition Fund to be extended beyond its scheduled end in 2027 in order to adequately support regions like Asturias in their transition to a more sustainable economic model. Stressing that such support is essential for achieving equitable growth and competitiveness, Peláez argued that the fund should be maintained within the European Union’s cohesion policy after 2027.

The impact of renewable energy expansion on land use and rural populations in Southeast Asia, such as large-scale land acquisitions worsening pre-existing land conflicts, emphasises the importance of incorporating principles of energy and agrarian justice into policies promoting renewable energy as part of a just transition. By considering challenges (such as the competition between using land for energy or for food production) and by adopting a balanced approach to just energy transition, policy-makers can navigate the transition to renewable energy in a manner that safeguards the interests of marginalised communities.

Proactive government planning and support in facilitating a just transition away from coal is crucial. Colorado and Montana—two coal-dependent regions in the United States—are following widely diverging paths as they navigate the decline of the coal industry. Signs of transition can already be seen in Colorado, where the state is taking several proactive measures and there are new businesses, tourism initiatives, and outdoor recreation opportunities emerging. Montana, on the other hand, has been slower to acknowledge the inevitability of coal decline, providing limited support for diversification efforts despite the economic challenges, which has left coal-dependent communities in the state struggling to adapt.