Agri SA verwelkom vroeë aankondiging oor Glasgowklimaatsooreenkoms
Agri SA sê in ‘n mediaverklaring dat hulle die vroeë aankondiging deur president Cyril Ramaphosa verwelkom wat hy tydens die COP26-klimaatsonderhandelinge in Glasgow gemaak het. Dit is naamlik dat Suid-Afrika ’n multimiljardonderneming met ontwikkelde lande aangegaan het ingevolge waarvan die land sy hoë koolstof-uitlatings en afhanklikheid van steenkool sal verminder.
Die ooreenkoms behels ’n vennootskap tussen die Europese Unie (Duitsland en Frankryk), die Verenigde Koninkryk, die VSA en Suid-Afrika waarvolgens hulp aan Suid-Afrika verleen sal word om weg te beweeg van sy hoë afhanklikheid van steenkool-gegenereerde elektrisiteit.
Besonderhede van die ooreenkoms is nog onduidelik in dié stadium, maar dit sluit blykbaar beleggings in van tot R131 miljard oor die volgende drie tot vyf jaar in die vorm van toekennings, konsessie-lenings, asook belegging- en risikodelingsinstrumente (met inbegrip van die mobilisering van openbare-sektor befondsing).
“Die implikasie is duidelik dat die ontwikkelde lande ’n vinnige oorgang na hernubare energiebronne verlang en dat hulle Suid-Afrika as ’n sleutel-rolspeler in Afrika beskou,” meen Janse Rabie, Agri SA se hoof van Natuurlike Hulpbronne.
Benewens die onlangse aankondiging van 25 voorkeurbieërs in die volgende rondte van Suid-Afrika se verkrygingsproses vir onafhanklike opwekkers van hernubare energie (REIPPPP), is die aankondiging vanuit Glasgow ’n duidelike aanduiding dat Suid-Afrika deel vorm van die wêreldwye tendens om weg te beweeg van fossielgebaseerde energie-opwekking ten gunste van skoner, hernubare energietegnologie.
“Hierdie aankondiging het die potensiaal vir aansienlike verdere kapitaalbelegging in Suid-Afrika en word verwelkom deur Agri SA vanuit ’n omgewingsperspektief. Hoëwaarde-landbouproduksiegebiede, in besonder, word nadelig getref deur steelkoolontginning en kragopwekkingsaktiwiteite in Mpumalanga en elders,” sê Rabie.
“Terwyl Agri SA bewus is van die implikasies wat dit vir ons mynbousektor inhou, is die globale wegbeweging van fossielgebaseerde kragopwekking onvermydelik en behoort dit verwelkom te word deur alle rolspelers.”
Terwyl Agri SA die belangrikheid van hierdie aankondiging besef, moet daar kennis geneem word van die feit dat die klimaatsverandering-onderhandelinge by COP26 eers oor die volgende twee weke in alle erns sal begin.
Agri SA sal enige verdere verwikkelinge en aankondigings wat ’n uitwerking op Suid-Afrika se landbousektor kan hê, fyn dophou. Navrae: Janse Rabie Agri SA: Hoof van Natuurlike Hulpbronne
Agri SA welcomes early announcement from Glasgow on climate deal
In a media release Agri SA said it welcomes the early announcement made by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the COP26 climate negotiations in Glasgow that South Africa has secured a multibillion-dollar deal with developed nations that is essential to curbing its high emissions and reducing its reliance on coal.
The agreement entails a partnership between the European Union, Germany, France, the UK and the US with South Africa whereby South Africa is set to be supported in moving away from its high reliance on coal-generated electricity.
Details of the deal are unclear at this stage, but apparently includes investment to the tune of R131 billion over the next three to five years in the form of grants, concessional loans and investment and risk-sharing instruments (including mobilising private sector funding).
“The implications are clearly that the developed nations are seeking a rapid transition to renewable energy sources and that they see South Africa as a key roleplayer on the African continent,” says Janse Rabie, Agri SA head of Natural Resources.
Together with the recent announcement of 25 preferred bidders in the next round of South Africa’s renewable energy independent power producers procurement process (REIPPPP), the early announcement coming from Glasgow is a clear indication that South Africa is part of the global trend of moving away from fossil-fuel based energy generation towards cleaner renewable energy technology.
“This has the potential for significant further capital investment in South Africa and is welcomed by Agri SA from an environmental point of view. High-value agricultural production areas have been particularly adversely impacted by coal mining and electricity generating activities in Mpumalanga and elsewhere,” says Rabie.
“While Agri SA appreciates the significant implications this may have for our mining sector, the global move away from fossil-based electricity generation is inescapable and should be embraced by all role players.”
While Agri SA appreciates the significance of the announcement, it has to be noted that the climate change negotiations at COP26 will only begin in earnest over the following fortnight.
Agri SA will follow further developments and announcements that may impact the South African agricultural sector. Enquiries: Janse Rabie Agri SA Head of Natural Resources