In order to seize opportunities in the green economy, South Africa needed to adopt a cross-departmental approach, Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel said on Tuesday.
He was speaking at the Green Economy Summit being held over three days in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Patel told the summit that the departments of public works, environmental affairs, energy, higher education and transport, among others, all had a role to play.
“However, South Africa must move with speed as elsewhere other countries are competing to take a slice of this green economy,” he said.
South Africa had to move beyond small scale green economy projects, the minister said, adding that the subject of a green economy had been timely.
“This is because of the Copenhagen summit and South Africa’s pledge to reduce carbon emissions.”
He said the green economy concept had also come in time to inform government’s new growth path.
‘Less carbon intensive and more labour absorbent’
“It is challenges of job creation, poverty, and promoting sustainable development that has led government to embark on this new growth path.”
The new growth path would be less carbon intensive and more labour absorbent.
“It will also recognise the constraints that South Africa faces such as the highly unequal access to water, land and energy.”
Two-thirds of South Africa’s exports came from energy intensive industries and the country’s electricity was almost totally carbon intensive.
“However, the pluses must be considered too,” he said.
South Africa had wind farms and solar energy and there was a history of development successes in the country, with Sasol’s coal-to-liquid project being one example.
Patel said job creation in a green economy was very important.
“Look at China — the Chinese government has invested heavily in clear energy and China is the world’s largest manufacturer of wind turbines as well as the largest manufacturer of solar panels — and China has created over a million jobs in the green economy.”
France expected to create 500 000 new jobs in the green economy between now and 2020, Patel said.
“Brazil has led the way though — with its biofuels industry it has employed half a million people — there is opportunity out there.”
Hope to create jobs
While South Africa had no indication of how many jobs could be created in the green economy, Patel said he hoped that the summit would assist in providing an indication of the number.
The Green Economy Summit was convened under the theme “Towards a resource efficient, low carbon and pro-employment growth path”.
It was hosted by the departments of economic development, environmental affairs, science and technology as well as trade and industry.
On its opening day it was attended by over 600 participants from government, business, non-governmental organisations and the environmental sector. — Sapa