“The notion of green economies seems to have gained momentum in both developed and
developing countries. For South Africa, the transition to a green economy presents a mix
of challenges and opportunities. This stems from the fact that South Africa faces myriad
socio-economic realities that force the country to maintain a generation of industries that contribute directly to the production of greenhouse gases in order to reduce unemployment, poverty and inequality. This paper provides an overview of South Africa’s attempts to migrate to a green economy. It specifically looks at the domestic and continental implications of
South Africa’s reorientation of its economy towards a low-carbon growth path. While the
country has managed to put together impressive policies meant to steer it onto a trajectory of low carbon economic growth, the realities facing South Africa point to an opposite direction.”
