FT News Briefing COP27: South Africa’s tricky shift from coal
Nov 8, 2022
Rishi Sunak announces a potential UK-France deal on migrant crossings, signaling political progress. Concerns rise as cyber experts warn about misinformation on Twitter ahead of the US midterms. Meanwhile, South Africa grapples with a challenging transition away from coal, facing economic hurdles despite a hefty $8.5 billion climate package. The impact on coal miners' jobs and growing debt worries underline the complexities of this shift. It's a whirlwind of news that intertwines politics, environment, and technology.
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Twitter and Midterm Elections
- Twitter fired half its staff, including content moderators, days before the US midterm elections.
- This raises concerns about misinformation spreading, especially given Musk's plans to change verification.
South Africa's Coal Transition
- South Africa received $8.5B to transition from coal, but most of it is loans, not grants.
- This raises concerns about increasing debt and the impact on the local coal industry.
South African Coal Plant Closure
- David Pilling visited a recently closed coal plant in South Africa.
- The plant's closure raises concerns about the future of 100,000 coal workers and the impact on black-owned businesses.