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21 November 2025

South Africa and Indonesia Conclude Dialogue Series on Just Energy Transition, Informing G20 Deliberations

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The fifth virtual policy dialogue between South Africa and Indonesia on just transitions in coal mining regions on 20 November 2025 marked the end of the knowledge exchange series hosted by PAGE in collaboration with the South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indonesia’s Ministries of National Development Planning and Finance. The series gave a voice to critical actors that shape fair and inclusive energy transitions inviting representatives from government, worker and employer organisations, research bodies, the Just Transition Energy Partnership, and the United Nations to present their vision, needs and solutions.

Discussions centered on both countries’ ambition to transition from coal in their energy mix and the related opportunities and challenges in advancing a just energy transition opening new pathways for shared learning and collaboration between the two countries.

Beyond national contexts, the dialogue carried important messages to South Africa’s presidency of the G20. It underscored how diverse national pathways can inform and inspire collective progress toward global climate goals, and its insights were reflected in one of the Presidency’s outcome documents, where PAGE’s role was acknowledged.

Priorities and Lessons from the Dialogue Series

Each of the dialogues brought unique perspectives and focus areas, shaping a comprehensive picture of the challenges and opportunities in achieving a just energy transition. The insights gathered point to common priorities and lessons that can guide future action. Key messages from these exchanges are summarized below.

  • Social dialogue is essential but underdeveloped: Inclusive dialogue among government, workers’ and employers’ organizations and communities is essential for the conception and delivery of place-based just transition pathways. Strengthening national and subnational social‑dialogue mechanisms is a need.
  • Skills development is a strategic priority: There is an urgent need to modernise labour‑market data systems, strengthen forecasting of green‑economy skills requirements, and ensure that training programmes are better aligned with emerging enterprise demand (Read more).
  • Importance of coherent institutional frameworks: Coordinated governance structures can support long-term transition planning.
  • Financing as a persistent bottleneck: Developing economies face structural constraints in mobilizing finance for transition investments. Stable policy environments and integrated social objectives were identified as prerequisites for unlocking capital (Read more).

Embedding Inclusive Policy Design in G20 Presidency Document

In the last dialogue, Dr. Shingi Mutanga (CSIR), provided an overview of South Africa’s engagement with the G20 Energy Transition Working Group, highlighting efforts to embed just transition considerations into technical discussions that are often dominated by energy and finance perspectives.

The PAGE dialogue offered valuable input to the non-negotiated G20 Presidency Document under Outcome 2 on Socio-economic Safeguards for Fossil Fuel-Dependent Regions, where lessons from the exchanges were reflected. It actively informed the development of the document, with its insights shaping key elements of the emerging guiding framework and recommendations for action. In particular, exchanges under PAGE contributed to strengthening the document’s emphasis on inclusive policy design, notably the establishment of multi-stakeholder platforms and social dialogue mechanisms to ensure meaningful participation of governments, workers, employers and affected communities.

G20 South Africa

Advancing Actionable Pathways for a Just Transition

The dialogue further helped advance the focus on workforce transition measures, including anticipatory skills development, reskilling and upskilling programmes aligned with evolving labour market needs, as well as targeted support for vulnerable groups. It also reinforced the importance of linking socio-economic safeguards with local value creation strategies, such as promoting domestic sourcing, supporting SMEs and fostering sustainable enterprises to drive job creation in emerging green sectors.

In addition, PAGE discussions informed the document’s forward-looking approach to implementation, including the development of roadmaps for social compacting, the use of socio-economic impact assessments to guide policy choices, and the establishment of monitoring and accountability mechanisms—such as transition observatories—to track progress and enable adaptive policy responses. Together, these contributions helped ensure that the Outcome 2 framework not only reflects shared lessons but also advances actionable pathways for a just and inclusive transition in fossil fuel-dependent regions.

Strengthening Cooperation

From the Indonesian perspective, Dr. Hendra Iswahyudi (Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources) highlighted the country’s diverse renewable energy potential and inclusive approaches—such as grievance mechanisms, benefit‑sharing for marginalized groups, and gender and disability integration—while showcasing innovative projects like solar power in post‑mining areas and sustainable reclamation. He emphasized that Indonesia and South Africa hold strategic roles in advancing just transition efforts, fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and ensuring vulnerable groups are included, with Indonesia ready to deepen South‑South cooperation to support G20 outcomes on a just, affordable, and inclusive energy transition.

Linking Climate Action, Employment, and Social Inclusion for an Integrated Green Economy

In the closing intervention, Vera Weick (PAGE Secretariat) reflected on the key messages emerging from the dialogue series and positioned them within the broader green economy agenda. She emphasized that a just energy transition must be embedded within an integrated green economy approach, linking climate action with employment creation, social inclusion, and sustainable industrial development. She highlighted that the South Africa and Indonesia experiences can inspire collective action toward a more sustainable and just future. She concluded by reaffirming PAGE’s commitment to supporting countries through integrated policy support and partnerships, and encouraged continued collaboration among governments, social partners, and international organizations to translate just transition principles into concrete, implementable actions.

About this Dialogue

This dialogue was the fifth in a series organized by the UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) in collaboration with the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) of South Africa, and the Ministries of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) and Finance in Indonesia.

Read More About This Dialogue Series

Funding partners

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