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UK climate envoy to visit South Africa to discuss helping shift from coal
(Reuters, 16 Sep 2021) South African environment ministry spokesman says discussions would focus on cooperation for a 'just transition' from coal to renewable energy.
Britain's envoy to the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) John Murton plans to visit South Africa ahead of the November talks, a spokesman in Pretoria said, to discuss helping it end an over-reliance on coal that makes it one of the world's leading carbon emitters.
South African Environment Ministry spokesman Albi Modise said discussions were exploratory but would focus on cooperation in the transition from coal to renewables.
Africa's most industrialised nation uses coal for 90% of its power needs. That has made it the world's 14th largest carbon dioxide emitter - pumping out 479 million tonnes equivalent in 2019 - two places above Britain (371.1 T), an economy eight times as big.
"The developed economies have a responsibility to fund the Just Transition to a low carbon economy and climate resilient society," Modise said.
Eskom, the state power company and Africa's single biggest greenhouse gas emitter, is pitching a $10 billion plan to global lenders that would see it shut the vast majority of its coal-fired plants by 2050 and embrace renewable energy.
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Reuters, 16 Sep 2021: UK climate envoy to visit South Africa to discuss helping shift from coal
