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THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 10 2010 07:04 | LAST UPDATED Feb 10 2010 07:04 |
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South Africa can cut its annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 200-million tonnes by 2050 without sacrificing economic growth if it uses energy more efficiently and increases wind and solar power production, Greenpeace said on Monday. South Africa could find economic opportunity, becoming the continent's hub for green technologies now more commonly found in North America, Asia and Europe, said Brad Smith, co-author of a new report on South Africa by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council, a Brussels-based campaign group. "Hopefully, South Africa will develop a homegrown industry and export the technology," said Smith, campaign director for Greenpeace's new Johannesburg-based Africa office. Developing countries' contribution to global warming and what should be done about it are expected to be major topics when 190 nations meet in Copenhagen later this year to try to draft an ambitious agreement to fight climate change. South Africa has said it, along with other developing nations, will argue that those that grew rich on polluting technologies now need to pay to help the poor get clean technologies. Nations like South Africa were expected to balk at reducing their greenhouse gasses unless the developed world sharply cuts emissions and offers cash and technology. Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council have produced scenarios on sustainable energy for several countries, but Monday's was the first for Africa. It proposed simple steps such as insulation, strict efficiency standards for electrical appliances and vehicles as well as the phasing in of the use of renewable energy. The emphasis was on using technology already proven and available, not on promoting "drastic lifestyle changes" such as banning driving or flying, said Sven Teske, a Greenpeace International official and another co-author of the report. "It's not science fiction," Teske said. South Africa is the only African nation among the 20 countries that emit nearly 90% of the world's greenhouse gases.  CONTINUES BELOW Greenpeace researchers acknowledged that many South Africans don't have heating systems in their homes, and that the country "sits with the legacy of apartheid where people were denied access to basic infrastructure and services". South Africa has seen protests, some violent, in recent months by people in impoverished communities demanding more and better services from their government 15 years after the end of white rule. "Energy is a requirement for social and economic development, thus a lack of access to energy contributes to poverty," the Greenpeace report said. Smith said the polluting path blazed by the West was not the only route to development. "You need to provide what people want, but in a smart way," he said. "It's about smart development and smart energy." - Sapa-AP TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
Comments
This is a great idea -- so you can be sure that the gvt will do nothing about it.
Ella Hume on October 13, 2009, 7:42 am
Why Government? If anything, this is an opportunity for South African private enterprises to get into the act.
Dick Corner on October 13, 2009, 8:42 am
Eskom plus other government departments (and section 9 companies) represent over 78% of South Africa's greenhouse emmissions.
Green Peace appears again to miss the positive things we should be doing like planting more trees !! Looking more at renewable and co-generation solutions. The items on the table are same old energy efficiency solutions, that admittedely have been neglected, but will be revved up in any event. No thought leadership here!!
Pantelis Tselentis on October 13, 2009, 9:49 am
This is the only route to go, but you need both political will to propagandise this idea and make it a social norm to save energy and generate as much as possible through renewable resources, and make sure it does not affect human health, forget about economic health. and Then you need a public buy-in, but the public is too busy making sure they survive the day that this issue will forever sit on the backburner
white trash on October 13, 2009, 11:55 am
a south african ship carrying 25 000 tonnes of coal was intercepted in italy a while ago.coal is the world's worst carbon killer.now,this shold ask questions about south africa's commitments to environmental preservation.going out to copenhagen and playing the developing country card by south africa would be hypocritical and scandalous.while eskom cannot afford nuclear power stations we are amongst the biggest contributor to climate degradation here in africa
zamo gasela on October 13, 2009, 12:49 pm
It is about time that we embrace clean power. We simply cannot continue burning coal at our current rate - it isn't sustainable and it is killing the planet. I would like to see government come up with a strategy showing how we can move away from polluting coal burning power stations towards more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Concerned Citizen on October 13, 2009, 1:04 pm
WTF Why don't they tell the US and the other G8 nations to cut their emissions. The US and company are the biggest polluters by far. e.g. the Ohio and Allegheny river are so polluted, people will not even eat the fish in it or swim in it.
nina blair on October 13, 2009, 4:08 pm
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