22 February, Johannesburg – In response to Minister Godongwana’s 2023 budget speech, Greenpeace Africa Climate and Energy Campaigner, Thandile Chinyavanhu said:
“Greenpeace Africa welcomes the Minister’s awareness of the impacts the climate crisis and resultant extreme weather events will have on South Africans. We need to see our cities and metros prepared to deal with climate change, while simultaneously addressing the root cause, which is Eskom’s historical dependence on coal.
“Tax incentives for individuals and businesses to invest in rooftop solar are welcomed. It is an essential element of the just transition which must also be accompanied by a feed-in tariff. Government must however invest in tackling the heart of the problem, which is the continued reliance on fossil fuels for our electricity needs. The just transition must be handled with utmost transparency and urgency to prevent further damage to economic sectors impacted by floods.
“Government needs to stop throwing money at Eskom – this time, to the tune of R254 billion – and invest more seriously in renewable energy technology and the just transition more broadly. A just transition is still the best and most immediate solution to South Africa’s electricity and unemployment crises,” ended Chinyavanhu.
ENDS
Contact details
Greenpeace Africa Press Desk: [email protected]
Chris Vlavianos,
Greenpeace Africa Communications Officer,
+27798837036, [email protected]