Agriculture contributed approximately 2.47% to the GDP of South Africa in 2021. The agricultural sector has great potential with the climatic conditions of the country ranging from subtropical to Mediterranean. South Africa’s agricultural sector is highly diverse, with the country producing almost all major grains, oilseeds, fruits, sugar, wine, and vegetables. South Africa has more...
In 1882, Kimberly was the first city in South Africa to be illuminated by electric streetlights. In 1891, the first central power station and distribution system was set up in Cape Town. In 1923, the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM) was established and was responsible for providing electricity to consumers. In 1987, ESCOM was renamed Eskom,...
Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DME) Quarterly Fuel Consumption Data South Africa is aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 398 – 510 MtCO2e by 2025, and to 350 – 420 MtCO2e by 2030, under its latest Paris Agreement Pledge.Various proxy indicators can be used to monitor trends in greenhouse gas emissions. Some...
The transport sector in South Africa is the second largest emitter of GHG in the country, responsible for 10.8% of GHG emissions, with road transport accounting for more than 90% of these emissions. From 2000 up to now, there has been a steady increase in GHG emissions from passenger cars. In 2000, GHG emissions from...
According to Notre Dame Global Adaptation InitiativeDroughts, floods, storms, landslides, and wildfires are becoming more prevalent across the globe due to climate change. In South Africa, more than 100 natural disasters were reported from 1900 to 2017, affecting 21 million people, causing 2200 fatalities, and with an estimated loss of 4.5 billion USD. More recently,...
South Africa depends heavily on coal for its electricity generation and is among the highest GHG emitters in the world. Over the last decade, South Africa has faced major electricity challenges, such as load shedding, which has become part of everyday life in the country. It is estimated that Stage 6 load shedding removed up...
Small increases in installed renewable energy capacity while significant increases in fuel consumptionThe Climate Progress Report for South Africa was published by Climate Scorecard in April 2022. This article gives an update on the performance indicators.TABLE Measurement Category Frequency Data Source Baseline Measurement First Measurement Value Date Value Date Amount of CO2 emissions Monthly Eskom...
“Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.” AristotleClimate change affects every country on the planet. The youth of today can act as agents of change for climate action. Their opinions, their understanding of climate change, their voice and actions can determine how their country deals with climate change. The world has already seen...
Natural gas currently accounts for approximately 2.6% of South Africa’s primary energy needs [1]. In 2020, South Africa used around 4.05 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Over the last decade, the consumption of natural gas in the country has fluctuated between a minimum of 3.65 billion cubic meters (in 2016) to a maximum of...
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a global increase in oil prices. Towards the end of February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, oil prices went above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2014 [1]. In South Africa, the price of petrol increased by R1.86 to R21 per litre in March 2022...
