Message by the Republic of South Africa Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande on the occasion of the Tokyo GX Week Ministerial Plenary Session
Ministers, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It gives me great pleasure to be speaking to you on the occasion of the Tokyo GX Week Ministerial Plenary Session.sc
The carbon intensity of the South African economy remains high, which presents opportunities for decarbonisation.
South Africa accounts for 1.2% of global greenhouse-gas emissions and the South Africa’s energy sector carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions rose from 451.58 million tonnes in 2015 to 478.61 million tonnes in 2019, making it the 12th largest CO2 emitting nation.
The largest driver of overall greenhouse gas emissions are CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, with the power sector as the largest contributor at 47%, followed by the energy and transport sectors with 16.7% and 11.7% respectively.
Fossil fuels make up approximately 92% of South Africa’s energy mix, with the majority consisting of coal, which increases the carbon intensity of locally made goods. For example, the carbon intensity of steel production amounted to 2,295.1 kgCO2/tonne product in 2016, which exceeds the world average of 1,900 kgCO2/tonne product.
This exposes South Africa’s steel exports to potential punitive carbon tax measures from its trading partners. Heavy industry, heavy duty road transport and shipping offer the largest opportunities to deliver fossil fuel and emissions savings.
In response to the need to decarbonise its energy mix, South Africa has established several national strategies to expand renewable energy and deviate from a fossil fuel-dominated economy.
Through the ‘Just Transition Framework’, the South Africa government will oversee and facilitate a Just Transition to a low-emissions and climate resilient economy with a focus on financing for renewable energy and technological advancements.
Distributive justice is one of the three principles that underpins the Just Transition Framework and can be embodied in South Africa by:
- Equipping South Africans with skills, assets, and opportunities to participate in industries of the future, with particular attention on impacted groups, the poor, women, people with disabilities and the youth;
- Implementing transformative national economic and social policies that clearly consider how benefits and burdens will be distributed (this includes clear indication of where jobs are gained, where jobs are lost, and the quality and longevity of future employment);
- Increasing provincial and local capacity (both resources and skills) to promote local economic development; and
- Ensuring corporate responsibility to support a green and inclusive economy.
A just energy transition (JET) to a low-carbon economy in South Africa is expected to result in the loss of about 300 000 jobs, but the creation of approximately 815 000 new jobs up to 2050.
The jobs that are expected to be lost will be in the high-emissions industries of coal and petroleum, but there is expected to be a net gain in mining-related employment as demand for energy minerals and metals rise, which will be needed to produce cleaner energy sources.
As South Africa, we are fully aware and acknowledge that without enhanced international collaboration in support of our decarbonization efforts, getting on track with the net zero emission scenario could be delayed by decades.
This highlights the need for governments globally to collectively intensify their efforts beyond just meeting their current climate pledges and commitments.
Therefore, there is a need for scaleup our collaboration, investment and innovation to transform our commitments into actionable interventions, ultimately contributing to the establishment of an equitable and just net zero carbon emission scenario by 2050.
We need a Just global energy funding regime to ensure equitable and affordable access to financing that advance intervention to achieve net zero emissions.
In conclusion, we are of the view that international collaborative action can make the transition to net zero faster, lower cost and easier to achieve.
Furthermore, international collaboration could accelerate shared innovation and technology deployment, support the agreement of common international standards, and foster the development of joint approaches to achieve a level playing field for the trade of low-emission goods.
In order to maximise these benefits, collaboration in the identified energy intensive sectors should therefore be inclusive, well-coordinated and support interaction between governments, businesses and civil society.
I thank you.
