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‘The path we choose now will determine the course for future generations,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his State of the Nation Address at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday.
The words echoed many of the environmental movements repeated statements over the years. Ramaphosa may have been referring to strengthening democracy but those words can be perfectly placed within the context of the environmental crisis that the country is facing.
South Africa’s dependence on coal has made it the biggest emitter in Africa. The president spoke of the need for alternative energy sources to be added into the national grid but did not mention any new developments.
Renewable energy and no new coke
“He made no mention of proposed new coal power, despite the fact that it is provided for in the IRP [Integrated Resource Plan] and ministerial determination,” Nicole Loser, head of the Pollution and Climate Change at the Centre for Environmental Rights, told Daily Maverick. “He also made no mention of new nuclear capacity.”
Instead, the president spoke out about new generation projects. These include increasing energy from the Renewable Energy Programme, adding 500MW from Bid Window 4 and 2,600MW respectively from Bid Window 5. 800MW are also available from these projects and 2,600MW from Bid Window 6. Bid Window 6 will soon be open.
In addition to adding renewable energy to the grid, there will also be 3,000MW gas power, 500MW of battery storage, and 3,000MW of natural gas power.
“Renewable energy production will make electricity cheaper and more dependable and will allow our industries to remain globally competitive. Investments in electric vehicles and hydrogen will equip South Africa to meet the global clean energy future,” Ramaphosa said, as he mentioned South Africa had a unique opportunity in green hydrogen, given renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy resources, technology and expertise.
Bongiwe Matsoha was the policy adviser at Earthlife Africa. Daily Maverick While it was encouraging to hear about developments in electric vehicles and green hydrogen, the lack of clarity around targets for increased renewable energy was alarming.
The ambition and optimism around alternative energy without mention of new coal projects is contrary to the support Minister of Minerals Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe has given to coal and nuclear, which led to him being dubbed a “coal fundamentalist”. Mantashe supports gas as an option, but environmentalists are against South Africa using it. They have concerns about its long-term environmental impact.
“A revised IRP would also reveal that nuclear and gas are not least-cost options for power generation. Actually, gas prices have risen in the last couple of years, and therefore, the inputs for IRP 2019 modelling are now outdated,” Matsoha said.
Ramaphosa endorsed gas as an appropriate alternative to coal, stating its “huge potential for job creation and broader economic development”. However, Loser said the president’s mention of gas was “concerning” and was a stark contrast to the comments made about the climate crisis and the need to reduce emissions. She said it was interesting that Karpowership wasn’t mentioned in connection with emergency power procurement.
“We will ensure that this is done in strict accordance with the environmental and other laws of our country,” Ramaphosa said, speaking of the use of gas, which has about half of the environmental impact of coal. “And where there are differences, we [will]Work together to solve [the differences] in the interest of our country and its people.”
Coal is the most important fuel. single biggest contributorClimate crisis. It contributes almost half of global carbon dioxide emissions and accounts for more than 70% total greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production. A shift away from coal, which was first mentioned in the final draft United Nations climate negotiations COP26, could play a significant role in reducing global carbon dioxide emissions and ushering South Africa into its just transition.
Transition funding and task team are all you need
During the climate negotiations COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, South Africa had what Ramaphosa called a “Watershed” moment. The European Union, Germany, France, the UK and the US partnered with South Africa through a R131-billion mixed funding pledge to fund the country’s just transition.
“This first-of-its-kind partnership will involve repurposing and repowering some of the coal plants that are reaching the end of their lives, and creating new livelihoods for workers and communities most impacted by this change,” the president said in his Sona speech.
Ramaphosa announced the appointment of Daniel Mminele, former governor of the Reserve Bank, and Absa CEO, to head the Presidential Climate Finance Task Team, which will oversee the mobilization of funds for the just Transition.
“Properly managed, the energy transition will benefit all,” Ramaphosa said, adding that investment in green hydrogen and electric vehicles would equip South Africa to meet a clean global future.
Matsoha said, “It is good that the president has appointed the head of the Presidential Climate Finance Task Team and hopefully we will have more transparency in terms of the allocation of funds, as well as monitoring and reporting on spending.”
She said, though, that with the country’s history of corruption and rent-seeking, her organisation would be following the development closely.
Ramaphosa’s speech made no mention of the climate crisis as an emergency, despite the crisis disproportionately affecting southern Africa, with millions of lives and livelihoods threatened by the changing climate. Matsoha referred to the president’s acknowledgement of the crisis as “somewhat underwhelming”.
Water reform and farming
Ramaphosa stated that the industrialization of the cannabis and hemp sector would create more than 130,000 new jobs. The sector needs particular climate conditions to thrive, even under the “innovative forms” in which the president said the farmers would bring the “age-old” herb on to the market.
Water security is a vital resource for farmers, but it is also highly threatened by the climate change. Ramaphosa stated, “The institutional reforms necessary to ensure future water security are being prioritised through the revising of water boards, including the creation of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency.” This agency will be open to public comment in March.
Climate Change Bill
Although no mention of new coal is a game-changer, environmentalists expressed concern that the Climate Change Bill hadn’t been mentioned. The bill proposes to ensure South Africa has a legal framework that it can abide by when it comes to meeting its climate goals and environmental requirements.
“More concerning, I didn’t hear him mention the Climate Bill… we’ve been waiting for climate legislation for a number of years now. If the government is really serious about addressing the climate emergency, then why is it not prioritising much-needed climate legislation?” Loser said. DM/OBP
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