/ 2 March 2012

Where is South Africa’s 21st century energy plan?

As part of WWF South Africa’s post-COP17 strategy, the Mail & Guardian and WWF South Africa invites you to join us at our next Critical Thinking Forum, where we will debate the status of Integrated Energy Planning (IEP).

Leading the discussion of the state of energy planning in South Africa and the consequent risks posed to the economy is Professor Mohan Munasinghe.

Professor Mohan Munasinghe is a physicist and academic with a focus on energy, water resources, sustainable development and climate change. He is the vice-chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former US vice-president Al Gore. Currently he is a professor of sustainable development at the Sustainable Consumption Institute, University of Manchester, and institute professor at the Vale Sustainable Development Institute, Federal University of Para, Brazil.

WWF-UK chief executive, David Nussbaum, says the depth and breadth of collective financial exposure to high carbon, extractive and environmentally unsustainable investments could become a major problem as we transition to a low carbon economy.

“It’s clear that we cannot burn all the fossil fuels currently listed as assets on the world’s financial markets without seriously impacting the value of other listed assets – which would affect the future pensions on which we’ll all depend. Taking the high carbon risks seriously should also assist us in the transition towards low carbon investments like renewables.”

The discussion will be moderated by journalist and television host, Xolani Gwala.

Date: 06 March 2012
Time: 18h00 for 18h30
Venue: FNB Conference Centre, 114 Grayson Drive, Sandown, Sandton
RSVP: [email protected] or call 011 250 7300