South Africa, the world’s 14th biggest carbon emitter, has pledged significant climate action but is lagging in its transition from coal to renewables, according to a recent report. Despite its ambitious commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the country’s slow pace in adopting renewable energy poses a major challenge.
Ambitious Pledges, Slow Progress
Africa’s most industrialized nation has been recognized for its bold climate goals, which surpass those of wealthier countries like France, Britain, and Italy. However, the discrepancy between policy commitments and actual implementation is stark. “Despite all the strong public support and policy commitments, we’ve got a huge discrepancy between that and what’s actually happening,” said Melissa Fourie, co-author of the Presidential Climate Commission report.
The independent report, commissioned by the president’s office, emphasized the need for a six-fold increase in the pace of renewable energy development. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed a comprehensive climate change act, setting emission caps for major polluters. International donors have pledged $12 billion, primarily in loans, to support South Africa’s energy transition—a model they hope to replicate in other developing nations.
Contradictory Policies and Investment Shortfalls
Despite these efforts, South Africa continues to rely heavily on coal, partly to address its persistent power shortages. Last year, officials reversed plans to shut down eight coal-fired power stations, acknowledging that the country will not meet its 2030 emission targets.
The report pointed out that South Africa’s total renewable capacity was 10.4 gigawatts (GW) in 2022, with an annual growth of just 1 GW since 2015. To achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the country would need between 190 GW and 390 GW, requiring an annual increase of 6 GW to 14 GW.
The report attributed the slow progress to “contradictory public policies” and a lack of consensus on the coal phaseout timeline, which delays the energy transition. Investment in renewable energy is also far below the required levels, with only 131 billion rand ($7.09 billion) committed annually, compared to the needed 334 billion to 535 billion rand.
Need for Accelerated Action
The findings underscore a significant public health and environmental concern for South Africa. The report calls for urgent and cohesive action to align the country’s actual progress with its climate commitments. This includes ramping up investments in renewable energy, enhancing policy coherence, and ensuring robust implementation of the climate change act.
Abdourahmane Diallo, WHO representative in Kenya, emphasized the importance of infrastructure development and education to support the transition. “To reduce the burden of road accidents, countries need to revamp transport infrastructure, retrain motorists, and promote safety education targeting all road users,” Diallo stated.
South Africa’s path to meeting its climate goals requires concerted efforts from the government, private sector, and international community. By accelerating the adoption of renewable energy and phasing out coal more decisively, the country can better align its actions with its ambitious climate pledges and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.
Source: Reuters
