SOUTH Africa is hoping to capitalise on a "green revolution" that could boost the economy and generate hundreds of thousands of jobs within 10 years.
Key government, civil society and business players at the COP17 climate talks on Friday night were all pushing for the country's transition towards a more eco-friendly and sustainable economy.
Renewable sources of energy and materials form the basis of a green economy, in which industries commit to limiting their harmful carbon emissions.
South Africa currently produces more than 90% of its electricity from coal-fired power stations and accounts for just over 1% of man-made greenhouse gases in the world.
The government, through its "green" tax system, collected nearly R700-million over the past year from levies and taxes on plastic bags, fuel, electricity, vehicle emissions and air travel.
The taxes are aimed at reducing the negative impact on the environment.
Now the government is intensifying plans to move to a low-carbon economy within the next decade, with the recent signing of the national green economy accord in Pretoria.
The accord binds government, business and labour to creating 300000 jobs by building a green industrial base in South Africa.
Experts believe the new accord has the potential to significantly change the country's current carbon and capital-intensive economic framework.
Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said this week that South Africa had to make the move towards a green economy as quickly as possible.
"As a considerable emitter of greenhouse gases, South Africa faces the challenge of transitioning to a less carbon-intensive growth trajectory without delay."
At a round-table discussion hosted by the Financial Times and Brand SA on Friday, Environment Minister Edna Molewa said she welcomed South Africa's "confident move into a green economy", with the creation of jobs in the next 10 years.
"At COP18 we will stand up proud and say to the world, 'yes, we are doing our bit'," Molewa said.
"We have stressed that there will be creation of jobs. This is not just an effort that is jobless, we will be getting into sustainable development, that talks to our people, our economy and takes care of our environment."
According to a "green jobs" report released on Friday, the largest contribution to the job market would come from natural resource management "due to the rich endowment that SA has in terms of solar and wind power".
The report - compiled by the Industrial Development Council and the Development Bank of South Africa - estimates that as many as 500000 jobs could be created in a greener economy.
"As more and more businesses, households and the public sector begin to embrace green technologies and practices, the potential exists to create a sustainable number of new job opportunities and to facilitate reskilling," the report said.
It showed that other jobs would come from green building activities, recycling, the conversion of waste to energy, the production of batteries for electric vehicles, soil and land management and renewable energy generation.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said South Africa needed to find more effective economic models to address the issue of climate change.
"We must convert opportunities into actuality," he said. "What we have witnessed now as a result of the climate crisis is the inability of the current economic models to create jobs ... Greening the economy is a huge opportunity."
Cosatu is backing the move towards a greener economy.
Said its spokesman Patrick Craven: "In the long run it is essential for the survival of the planet, that we have an economy which is not dependent on the burning of fossil fuels.
"Of course some jobs will be lost in some sectors. We believe that many, if not more, could be created in other sectors."
- Timeslive
Key government, civil society and business players at the COP17 climate talks on Friday night were all pushing for the country's transition towards a more eco-friendly and sustainable economy.
Renewable sources of energy and materials form the basis of a green economy, in which industries commit to limiting their harmful carbon emissions.
South Africa currently produces more than 90% of its electricity from coal-fired power stations and accounts for just over 1% of man-made greenhouse gases in the world.
The government, through its "green" tax system, collected nearly R700-million over the past year from levies and taxes on plastic bags, fuel, electricity, vehicle emissions and air travel.
The taxes are aimed at reducing the negative impact on the environment.
Now the government is intensifying plans to move to a low-carbon economy within the next decade, with the recent signing of the national green economy accord in Pretoria.
The accord binds government, business and labour to creating 300000 jobs by building a green industrial base in South Africa.
Experts believe the new accord has the potential to significantly change the country's current carbon and capital-intensive economic framework.
Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said this week that South Africa had to make the move towards a green economy as quickly as possible.
"As a considerable emitter of greenhouse gases, South Africa faces the challenge of transitioning to a less carbon-intensive growth trajectory without delay."
At a round-table discussion hosted by the Financial Times and Brand SA on Friday, Environment Minister Edna Molewa said she welcomed South Africa's "confident move into a green economy", with the creation of jobs in the next 10 years.
"At COP18 we will stand up proud and say to the world, 'yes, we are doing our bit'," Molewa said.
"We have stressed that there will be creation of jobs. This is not just an effort that is jobless, we will be getting into sustainable development, that talks to our people, our economy and takes care of our environment."
According to a "green jobs" report released on Friday, the largest contribution to the job market would come from natural resource management "due to the rich endowment that SA has in terms of solar and wind power".
The report - compiled by the Industrial Development Council and the Development Bank of South Africa - estimates that as many as 500000 jobs could be created in a greener economy.
"As more and more businesses, households and the public sector begin to embrace green technologies and practices, the potential exists to create a sustainable number of new job opportunities and to facilitate reskilling," the report said.
It showed that other jobs would come from green building activities, recycling, the conversion of waste to energy, the production of batteries for electric vehicles, soil and land management and renewable energy generation.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said South Africa needed to find more effective economic models to address the issue of climate change.
"We must convert opportunities into actuality," he said. "What we have witnessed now as a result of the climate crisis is the inability of the current economic models to create jobs ... Greening the economy is a huge opportunity."
Cosatu is backing the move towards a greener economy.
Said its spokesman Patrick Craven: "In the long run it is essential for the survival of the planet, that we have an economy which is not dependent on the burning of fossil fuels.
"Of course some jobs will be lost in some sectors. We believe that many, if not more, could be created in other sectors."
- Timeslive
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