11 Stories Produced from EJN’s Recent Data Journalism Workshop in South Africa

Many countries around the world, including South Africa, are striving to reach their net zero targets by 2050. The uptake and integration of green power to nations’ energy infrastructure is crucial to their success.  

South Africa has taken steps toward carbon neutrality but faces challenges, including a historic dependency on coal power and the destruction of forests that act as carbon sinks.  

Since 2021, with funding from European Climate Foundation, EJN’s Pathways to Net Zero project has supported journalists to deepen their reporting and build capacity to report on their countries’ journeys to a clean energy future. Through workshops and story grants, journalists have worked to develop their skills and produce timely and impactful stories on this topic in India, Argentina and South Africa.  

Most recently, EJN held a  workshop  on Net Zero Data Journalism from January 29th to February 1st in Johannesburg, South Africa. Selected participants heard from experts on the science of greenhouse gas emissions and the link between net zero and health. To report more effectively on their country’s progress toward net zero, they participated in sessions focused on data scraping, formatting and visualisation.  

After the workshop, they went on to produce 11 stories:  

• Zano Kunene highlighted the health and mortality risks from the dirty air that emanates from coal-fired power plants.
• Lindi Botha researched the damning effects of air pollution on health, from respiratory problems to compromised immune systems less capable of warding off new diseases or viruses.
• Kimberly Mutandiro spotlighted the plight of families forced to leave their ancestral homelands due to a coal mine expansion.
• Qiniso Mbili underlined the potentially negative impact of a coal-phase out on local communities and the pressing need for a just transition.
• Sakhile Dube took a deep dive into the pitfalls and possibilities of green power as a realistic replacement for coal.  
• Bridget Lepere analyzed the industry sector’s progress towards carbon neutrality and the necessity of a concerted and unified approach to achieve it.
• Nica Richards explored the carbon emissions of various clothing materials —from hemp to spandex — and examined which fabrics are most sustainable.    
• Thabo Mohlala explored the often-overlooked carbon footprint of fast fashion, which is the second largest industrial greenhouse contributor.
• Oz Patel compared the successes and setbacks of a just transition in South Africa and Indonesia, two countries among the world’s top-20 carbon emitters.  
• Siya Mokena sought to understand how young people can benefit from the renewable energy transition, including the job opportunities available to them.
• Julie Boudin investigated the risks of an energy apartheid if South Africa fails to regulate its solar boom and favor only those who can afford to go off-grid. 

“This workshop helped journalists gain a foothold in the challenging terrain of data journalism. Participants were trained on how to interpret complex, scientific and often overwhelming datasets, and how to translate numbers into a message with meaning and relevance for their audiences. By starting with the building blocks and progressing to more sophisticated tools to create maps, charts and graphics, participants learnt how to utilize data—not simply as an add-on—but as the main driver of their stories,” said Jenny Davies, Project Manager for the Pathways to Net Zero in South Africa and Argentina.  

Read other stories produced with project support here and check out these helpful tipsheets to improve your coverage of South Africa’s progress toward net zero here.

Banner Image: Water coolers at Komati Power Station, a decommissioned coal power station which will be the site of a host of sustainable and clean energy projects / Credit: Thabo Mohlala.