The International Energy Agency (IEA) – of which South Africa is an association country – recently released a report detailing a way forward for countries looking to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and thus give the world an even chance of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C. However, the recommended path to net-zero would be a tough one for South Africa to follow, considering our heavy reliance on coal.
As the world prepares for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) taking place in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021, South Africa must focus its efforts on tangible solutions for emission reductions. “Given the current South African coal-dominated electricity generation context, the IEA milestone targets will prove a lot more difficult to achieve than most other countries,” says Lethabo Manamela, interim CEO of the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI).
Amongst others, the report, Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector, recommends that by 2030 all subcritical coal‐fired power plants must be phased out and, by 2050, global coal use must be 90% lower than in 2020. However, Manamela adds that there is reason for hope. “Recent signals from the State President, together with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), other government ministries, Eskom and the private sector, shows a clear commitment by all the major decision makers to achieve this target.”
She adds that this will, however, must take place within a Just Energy Transition (JET) framework, which appears to be gaining a lot of momentum in the country and is sure to be a big focus of COP26. The JET is crucial for South Africa’s sustainable and inclusive move towards cleaner energy practices. In this regard, last year saw the formation of the Presidential Climate Commission
(PCC) which is mandated to coordinate and oversee the transition towards a low-carbon economy and society which considers our unique socio-economic landscape.
“The socio-economic situation in South Africa brings with it both a number of challenges, but also a lot of opportunities.