City of Tshwane, 1st October 2021(TDI): South African cabinet ministers met with climate envoys from some of the world’s wealthiest countries, on Tuesday, to examine financial possibilities and other forms of support to help the country to go green and reduce its coal dependency.
They discussed a climate pact that could reach about $5 billion toward ending the country’s reliance on coal and that would allow them to retire several coal-fired power plants and increase the amount of green energy on their carbon-heavy grid.
The majority of the financing would come from loans that would be offered at softer than usual terms.
South Africa relies on coal for more than 80% of its energy. As a result, it is now the 14th greatest carbon dioxide emitter on the planet.
John Murton, the UK’s COP26 envoy, headed the climate envoys. COP26 is the United Nations’ 26th Conference on Climate Change. It will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, between October 31 and November 12, 2021.
Deputy Minister of Finance David Masondo, Deputy Minister of Dirco Alvin Botes, DFFE Minister Barbara Creecy, Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel, and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan were among the South African delegation that attended the meeting.
