Under the leadership of the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr George Wachira, convened a diverse group of stakeholders – including representatives from government, the private sector, civil society organizations, and development partners – to reflect on UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s speech titled “A Moment of Opportunity.” 

This dialogue was supported by the United Nations Development Programme under the UNDP Climate Promise. This initiative supports 140 countries and territories in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the challenges of climate change. Eswatini, supported by UNDP, is in the process of developing its third version of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC3.0), a climate action plan in line with the Paris Agreement. 

Delivered on 22 July, the speech presented a compelling, evidence-based economic case for a just energy transition. Its core aim was to reposition climate ambition as a strategic lever for development and to catalyse momentum toward enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) ahead of the 30th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP 30).

Read the full speech here: https://bit.ly/4kOts8x

Held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane, the event featured high-level speakers, including the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Hon. Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, represented by the Chief Environment Coordinator, Ms. Constance Dlamini, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. George Wachira, and UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Henrik Franklin.

The programme also included a panel discussion, moderated by Eswatini Environment Authority Executive Director, Mr Gcina Dladla, which focused on Eswatini’s progress and prospects in advancing a just energy transition.

Quotable quotes:

“We must collectively mobilise the financing, technology, and capacity needed to support countries, especially those most vulnerable, in delivering on their climate commitments and ensuring a just, inclusive transition. This includes both domestic and external funding and financing, both public and private,” UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Henrik Franklin. 

“The Secretary-General’s address, titled “A Moment of Opportunity,” frames climate ambition as a driver of economic transformation. It challenges all of us to see climate action not as a cost, but as an investment in shared prosperity,” UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. George Wachira. 

“Through strategic partnerships, particularly with the United Nations and other international stakeholders, Eswatini is taking bold steps including the drafting Eswatini Energy Master Plan 2021–2037, which outlines a national target to increase the share of renewable energy to 50% of the electricity supply by 2030,” Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Hon. Jane Mkhonta-Simelane. 

“The just energy transition is happening in the country, especially at the policy level, but it’s happening without young people. The only time young people are engaged is at the consultation phase, where they share input on how the just transition could be designed from policy to project implementation and the overall sustainable development,” Ms Nokuthula Mamba, the Executive Director at the Youth Sustainable Development Centre. 

“Government is faced with a challenge – how does it balance the requirements for energy in the country, and the just energy transition process. For example, going off-grid is inevitable for us because, to service communities like Khelekhele (a remote area), you have to have your mini-grids and solar home systems, which is what the government is already implementing. However, how then do we drive our manufacturing and industries to go greener because that is determined by where the funding is coming from,” Ms Candice Stromvig, Principal Energy Officer, Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy. 

“We need to invest in the larger projects because the spinoffs to the smaller projects are just going to happen naturally. As a bank, we are mobilising resources to fund all the larger projects in Eswatini at the moment. We’re saying funding is available and, to the extent where funding is not available in Eswatini,  and to the extent that funding is not available in Eswatini, we’re mobilising international funding,” Mr Mvuselelo Fakudze, Standard CEO. 

“When it comes to derisking, Eswatini is working on the accreditation of national entities and one of them is a bank and I’m looking forward to seeing that through because under GCF (Green Climate Fund) we have some instruments that could be used for derisking, including guarantees,” Ms Duduzile Nhlengethwa Masina, Director of Meteorological Services.