Building a competitive and dynamic green industrial sector in South Africa after COVID-19

Policy Paper 28

COVID-19 gave the world a glimpse of how devastating a pandemic can be to economies and livelihoods. Climate change, given its permanence, would be far more devastating, hence the renewed efforts at the global level to mitigate climate change. South Africa, one of the dirtiest producers in the world, faces the challenge of transitioning to a low-carbon and sustainable economy to meet its commitment to the Paris Agreement while satisfying domestic growth and development imperatives. South Africa has realised some progress in lowering the carbon content of its output, with the energy intensity of industrial production declining by 23 percent between 2002 and 2018. However, the country compares poorly relative to its BRICS peers, raising competitiveness concerns should carbon be penalised in trade. The electricity shortages bedevilling South Africa present an opportunity to change its energy mix, and thus carbon intensity of output, while the country’s strong industrial base should propel it to lead the production of green goods in Africa (and beyond). This, however, requires policy coherence across government, and partnerships with private sector.

Policy Paper 28
1 June 2021
SHARE THIS Policy Paper PUBLICATION:

Related Project Content

The Covid Project

Media Highlight
Business Live
Why SA isn’t getting the growth it needs
publication
Discussion Document
COVID-19 and the South African Economy
Podcast
Podcast
Dr Channing Arndt on Building back fairer from the Covid-19 Pandemic in South Africa
publication
Dialogue
Part 4: Building back for a sustainable future
Podcast
Podcast
Dr Matthew Stern on understanding South Africa’s trade policy and performance
publication
Dialogue
Part 3: International perspectives and South Africa’s trade policy
Podcast
Podcast
Prof Andreas Wörgötter on addressing current and persisting challenges in South Africa’...
publication
Dialogue
Part 2: Recovery policies and labour utilization
Podcast
Podcast
Prof Nicola Viegi on evaluating the near future of monetary policy in SA: Sailing into ...
publication
Dialogue
Part 1: Monetary policy and Covid-19 in South Africa
publication
Policy Paper
Building a competitive and dynamic green industrial sector in South Africa after COVID-19
publication
Policy Paper
Addressing low labour utilisation in South Africa
publication
Policy Paper
Understanding South Africa’s trade policy and performance
publication
Policy Paper
Sailing into the Wind: evaluating the (near) future of Monetary Policy in South Africa
publication
Working Paper
Financial Statecraft: Government Choice of Debt Instruments
publication
Policy Brief
Labour market and monetary policy in South Africa