[FROM THE ARCHIVES] SA’s climate change standoff

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟮 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭. With scientific consensus that the worst climate damage and warming can be halted if humans drastically reduced carbon dioxide emissions, South Africa has set its sights on global net zero by 2050. Fulfilling this means SA must cut human-caused CO2 emissions by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030. Without any action, climate damage caused by global heating will continue to escalate – with extreme weather events intensifying. But South Africa faces a conundrum as its teetering economy is highly dependent on coal that makes the country a top greenhouse gas emitter. Carte Blanche investigates the tensions between those with vested interest in the status quo and those who believe in the benefits of leaving behind the way we do business to move South Africa to a zero-carbon future.