Green Economy

What is a green economy?

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, a green economy is defined as low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. In a green economy, growth in employment and income are driven by public and private investment into such economic activities, infrastructure and assets that allow reduced carbon emissions and pollution, enhanced energy and resource efficiency, and prevention of the loss of biodiversity. It is an economic system that promotes sustainable consumption and production practices to reduce resource consumption, waste generation and carbon emissions across the full life cycle of processes and products. This delivers value to society through sustainable economic growth by focusing on investment, employment and skills.

Read what National Government has to say about a green economy: click here

What are the different sectors in the green economy?

National Government has identified nine key areas in the green economy, but this competition will focus on four of them:

Agriculture, food production and forestry
Clean energy and energy efficiency
Sustainable waste management practices
Water management

Read the rest: click here

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is energy produced from the earth's unlimited natural sources that can be used repeatedly because it is naturally replenished faster than it is consumed. Common sources of renewable energy is the sun, wind, water, underground heat and organic materials which is all around us in abundance and do not run out.

Why is renewable energy important?

Most of the the energy we use in South Africa, specifically electricity, comes from non-renewable sources called fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil. These fossil fuels are eventually going to run out and there will be none left for future generations. Also, when we burn these fossil fuels to provide energy we release these harmful gasses into the air - called greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide - which massively contributes to global warming and climate change. Thus, renewable energy is important because it does not run out and it does not pollute the environment.

What are the main sources of renewable energy?

Solar

Solar energy means energy from the sun. Solar technologies deliver electricity, lighting, cooling and heating.

Wind

In offshore and onshore regions, wind energy produces electricity from moving air by using wine turbines on wind farms.

Water

From water is hydropower or hydroelectric energy which is energy from moving water in dams, reservoirs and rivers to generate electricity.

Geothermal

Geothermal energy means the natural heat from the interior of the Earth. Electricity is generated using heat deep underground

Biomass

Bioenergy is produced by burning biomass, which is organic materials (plant and animal matter), to produce heat and electricity.

Icons courtesy of: Flaticon

What is a Just Energy Transition?

OVERVIEW

The just energy transition (JET) focuses on the transition of South Africa's energy sector as the country navigates the shift away from coal towards cleaner sources of energy. Currently, 77%* of South Africa's greenhouse gas emissions are from energy (electricity, heat and transport) with 90%* of South Africa's electricity is generated from coal fired power stations. Thus, South Africa has to transition to an energy system that is sustainable, low-carbon, equitable, transparent, and incorporative of renewable energy and alternative sources. By this, the livelihoods and communities that are tied to high-energy emitting industries (e.g. coal) are not to be left behind in the shift towards a low-carbon economy. Thus, a JET should be a system that is better for people and the planet through new and better jobs, social justice and poverty eradication.

Just

Energy

Transition

Icons courtesy of: Flaticon

How does renewable energy relate to the JET?

Renewable energy is relevant in the context of the just energy transition because:

it addresses carbon emission reductions, positively affecting society and the environment - Just
an increasing share of renewable energy is used to produce electricity - Energy
industries are gradually moving towards low-carbon technologies and transforming business models - Transition