A new national campaign is encouraging South Africans to support the country’s just energy transition through practical everyday climate actions in homes and communities.
South Africa has launched a new national mobilisation and awareness campaign aimed at strengthening public participation in the country’s broader just energy transition and climate action efforts.
Led by the United Nations in South Africa, together with the Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund and in partnership with the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), the campaign focuses on encouraging practical, everyday actions that individuals and communities can take to contribute toward a cleaner, more resilient and inclusive future.
The initiative complements wider structural reforms and policy interventions already being advanced by government, industry and social partners as South Africa works toward a more sustainable energy future.
Central to the campaign is the rollout of digital, static and solar-powered billboards across high-visibility public spaces in cities and communities around the country. Implemented in partnership with outdoor advertising company JCDecaux, the billboards are designed to make climate action more visible, relatable and accessible in daily life.
The campaign is built around the message: “Everyone has a role. Every climate action counts. #ActNow.” Through this approach, organisers aim to reinforce the idea that climate action is not limited to policy and institutions alone, but also depends on the collective participation of households, communities and individuals.
The campaign promotes twelve practical actions that South Africans can adopt in their everyday lives. These include saving energy, recycling, reducing fossil fuel use, supporting local businesses, choosing cleaner energy options, avoiding illegal electricity connections and supporting women-owned enterprises.
According to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Nelson Muffuh, the country’s just energy transition will ultimately be shaped not only by policy, but also by the everyday choices people make in their homes, workplaces and communities.
The Presidential Climate Commission says the initiative is also intended to simplify climate action and encourage greater public engagement around sustainability and the just transition. By translating global climate commitments into visible local action, the campaign aims to strengthen social dialogue and inspire broader participation across society.
The use of solar-powered billboards further reinforces the campaign’s objectives by demonstrating clean energy solutions in practice while extending communication reach into areas where infrastructure access may be limited.
The campaign aligns with South Africa’s Climate Change Act of 2024 and the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions under international climate agreements. It also supports the implementation of South Africa’s broader Just Energy Transition framework.
As climate challenges continue to affect economies, infrastructure and communities globally, the initiative positions public participation as a key part of building a safer, cleaner and more inclusive future for South Africa.
