South Africa is a crucial global partner in foreign and climate policy and a pioneer of the energy transition on the African continent. At the same time, climate change in South Africa has long been a bitter reality. Water crises, droughts and floods are not just scenarios, but current challenges.

The new Government of National Unity has a historic chance to drive forward a socially just energy transition and thereby become a role model for resilient and sustainable development on the African continent. Germany intends to continue to do everything in its power to support this, for example within the framework of the South African Just Energy Transition Partnership.

Through my visit I want to further intensify our international climate cooperation with South Africa. I plan to evaluate at first hand the opportunities and risks facing the country along its path away from fossil fuels and towards a sustainable economy. For every ton of CO2 saved in South Africa will bolster both German and South African climate security.

At international level, too, we want to drive forward climate protection measures with the new government, whether within the context of the upcoming South African G20 Presidency or through exchange on the progress that can be made at this year’s Climate Change Conference. Here, the aim is to accelerate the energy transition, halt deforestation and build resilience, as well as to consider how sufficient resources can be mobilised to enable all countries to achieve a socially just energy transition.