Review 3 final 2 - TAU - National Treasury

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UNIT REVIEW | Green Governance
Job creation
The Green Economy also has much higher job creation
possibilities than conventional technologies.
Recent research published in October 2009 (“[R]
evolution: a Sustainable South Africa Energy Outlook)
by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy
Council (EREC) estimates that 78 000 new jobs can be
created in South Africa in less than 20 years from the
green energy economy. At the same time renewable
electricity could reduce South Africa’s carbon dioxide
emissions by 60% by 2050. SA has considerable sun
and wind resources and has the potential to develop
as a renewable energy technology exporter in the
African context. Earlier research by Greg Austin of
Agama Energy, commissioned by Earthlife Africa to
investigate job creation potentials in the energy sector,
shows a similar picture.
These job creation figures are not unique to the energy
sector. Waste management also offers high levels of
job creation and SMME development potential.
In South Africa households produce about 15 million
tons of solid waste per annum, and industry about 25
million tons. As it stands about 15 000 people earn
a living from 71 landfill sites and 67% of tin cans are
recycled with no government help 2 . Simple incentives
and policies can be created to build this aspect of the
economy. For example, methane gas can be captured
and used to power electricity turbines (two landfill
sites can generate about 7,5MW of power).
2 Business Day Tuesday 7 September, p4 – Effective waste
management projects have economic benefits
Conclusion
There are many other ideas out there for building
resilience and the green economy. For example,
economic and fiscal measures include ideas around
green taxes, laws requiring industry to take back lifeexpired
products, making goods which will last longer,
and more responsible choices by individual consumers.
Tasneem Essop, currently a National Planning
Commissioner, had the following to say when she was
still a Western Cape MEC, Essop at her address to the
opening of the Planning Africa 2006 conference in
Cape Town.
“Finally I will briefly refer to the ‘earth democracy’
principles of Vandana Shiva. The concept of Earth
Democracy privileges ecological and cultural
diversity in form and function. This is what Shiva
refers to as ‘feeling at home on the Earth and with
each other’ that is created through inclusive living
economies. It is a counter narrative to monocultures
which, as by products of exclusion and dominance,
create environments of coercion and loss of
freedom. This is an alternative world-view to greed,
consumerism and competition as objectives
of human life. The Earth Democracy approach
embodies principles that enable people to transcend
practices of polarization, division and exclusion. It
speaks to a logic of multi-functionality and inclusion
as the basis of diversity. Embedded in the approach is
the inherent human and professional duty to ensure
well-being of all species, including the environment.
Our human and professional responsibility is
therefore one of trusteeship, instead of the dominant
notion of mastery, control and ownership. Rights are
inextricably related to these.” (Essop 2006: 5)
Matt Cullinan
Senior Technical Advisor
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Enabling change for development