By Koketso Mamabolo
One of the main concerns for world leaders is the need for development. Whether it be economic powerhouses such as the United States and the European Union, or developing countries such as South Africa and Brazil, growth is high on many agendas. But this growth cannot go unchecked, and more leaders are committing to not ignoring the impact of this growth on the environment, and doing something to ensure the development of the world’s economy is as sustainable as possible. This is where the concept of a ‘green economy’ comes in.
In 2014, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research published a reference guide titled “Steering Towards a Green Economy”.
For the green economy to become a reality, the public and private sectors need to play their part. For the private sector, it's about investing in green sectors and driving the push to make other sectors environmentally friendly. The public sector also needs to make significant investments, but where it can have the biggest impact is on policies that create the environment for a green economy to flourish, and the standard to which it should be changed.
The draft Climate Change Bill, which was introduced to the National Assembly in early 2022, is one of the policy elements which can take us even further. Chapter 2 of the Bill acknowledges that the role of stakeholders will define the success of the government’s strategy.
“In order to give effect to the principles and objects set out in this Act, organised labour, civil society and business may advise on the Republic’s climate change response, the mitigation of climate change impacts and adaptation to the effects of climate change towards the attainment of the just transition to a climate resilient and low carbon economy and society,” reads the Bill.