Driving forth an inclusive and equitable clean energy transition

In October 2025, the Clean Energy for Development initiative gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa for a cross-cohort in-person workshop. On Friday 17 October, we held a policy event, entitled ‘Unlocking the Potential of Small and Medium Businesses and Entrepreneurs in the Clean Energy Transition’.

The event brought together key policymakers, activists and researchers working on a clean energy transition, with opening remarks from James Christoff, High Commissioner for Canada in South Africa, and keynote remarks from Devan Pillay, Presidential Climate Commission. A panel discussion was chaired by Bipasha Baruah (Western University) between Tanya van Meelis (Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU), Gerald Nienaber (Local Content Compliance Unit, LCCU), James Musonda (Institute for Economic Justice, IEJ), and Jane Mariara (Partnership for Economic Policy, PEP).

During the event, the panel discussed recommendations and steps for including MSMEs in the Clean Energy Transition. These recommendations have been distilled into our latest briefing paper, with seven key recommendations to the G20.

Watch members of the Clean Energy for Development cohort deliver their calls to action for the G20, to drive an equitable, sustainable and just clean energy transition.