Just Energy Transition in South Africa: A living evidence map

South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET) seeks to reduce reliance on carbon-intensive energy while strengthening energy security, supporting economic development and protecting affected workers and communities. Evidence can help inform how this transition is planned, financed and implemented fairly.

This living evidence map brings together 260 relevant to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition. It helps policymakers, practitioners, researchers, funders, civil society and other stakeholders find evidence, explore its coverage and identify gaps. The map aims to make relevant knowledge easier to find and use, helping users explore what is known about the transition, where evidence is limited and which questions require further investigation.

The map’s portfolios and outcome domains were determined through a co-production process with the JET Project Management Unit (PMU) team, informed by South Africa’s Just Transition Framework and the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan.

JET portfolios

1. Electricity
2. Mpumalanga Just Transition
3. Skills
4. Municipalities
5. New Energy Vehicles
6. Green Hydrogen
7. JET Funding Platform

Outcome domains

1. New renewable energy generation and distribution
2. Economic diversification
3. Increased funding flows
4. GHG emission reductions
5. Social, economic and environmental co-benefits

Evidence was identified through structured searches and direct submissions from the JET PMU team, then assessed against agreed inclusion criteria. The current map covers evidence published between 2000 and 2026, including academic research and grey literature reports that present empirical analyses or monitoring findings specific to South Africa. Sources are included based on their substantive relevance, whether or not they explicitly use the term ‘Just Energy Transition’.

Each included source is reviewed and assigned categories describing its focus, location, populations and relevant portfolios and outcomes. This process helps users find and compare evidence across the map.

The map shows where evidence is available; the number of sources does not, by itself, establish the quality or effectiveness of the evidence. As a living resource, the map will be updated periodically to incorporate new evidence.

Help us keep the map up to date. If you know of a study or report relevant to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition, please share it with Nkululeko Tshabalala or Mark Everett.

Please include the title and a link or full-text attachment, where available. All submissions will be assessed against the evidence map’s inclusion criteria and considered for inclusion.

Email: ntshabalala@pace-evidence.org or Mark.Everett@jetpmu.org.za