In a new report, it’s been revealed that Eskom has not taken action to reduce its emissions. While power stations in other countries have seen fit to take action to reduce sulphur dioxide, which contributes to high levels of air pollution and is the main health affecting pollutant from burning coal.
The data analysis released by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found Eskom to be the highest polluter in its field. Eskom also emits more sulphur dioxide into the air than the entire US and Chinese energy sector combined.
While both the US and China have dramatically reduced their emissions in recent years, India remains the world’s top polluter by country.
The World Health Organisation has said that South Africa’s air levels exceed safe limits.
Speaking to Daily Maverick, Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said the power utility is “fully aware of its emissions obligations. It has embarked on a programme to transition from retiring coal-fired power stations to renewable energy, with a view to attain a net-zero status by 2050.”
Looks like our lungs and indeed overall health may be in for a rough time for the foreseeable future but retiring those coal-fired power stations may be a tricky road to navigate.
According to the Minerals Council of South Africa, the coal sector accounts for 45% of employment in South Africa and around 60% of GDP and around 70% of export earnings.
So far the Komati coal-fired power station in Mpumalanga is being repurposed for renewable energy.
Meanwhile, a tribunal set up to recover looted funds has ruled that R11.5 million held in a bank account linked to a former senior Eskom manager be forfeited to the state.
And in other climate-related news, Extinction Rebellion climate activists invaded the Louis Vuitton catwalk with a banner brandishing “Overconsumption = extinction”.
The show was yesterday at the Louvre art gallery in Paris, France. The activist group wants the French government to enforce “an immediate cut in production levels in the sector, given that 42 items of clothing were sold per person in France in 2019”.
Here’s a roundup of the world’s top and most interesting headlines:
SA Business
South Africa is tightening its rules around executive pay, but gaps remain – The Conversation
SA CEO optimism back to pre-pandemic levels, KPMG survey shows – Fin24
Unions calls on millions of workers to stay at home or join strike action in South Africa – BusinessTech
Global Business
US jury orders Tesla to pay ex-employee $137 million over racism – AFP
Ex-Facebook manager urges Congress to regulate tech giant – Euronews
New Zealand raises interest rates for first time in seven years – BBC
Markets
These assets are most exposed to commodity-fueled inflation – Bloomberg
Asian continues downward trend as inflation persists – Investing.com
Cathie Wood dumps most of her Nintendo stock before OLED launch – Bloomberg
Opinion/In-depth
Assault on the West Coast: Inside the illegal diamond mining applications – Daily Maverick
South Africa needs to up its game when it comes to financial inclusion for women – The Conversation
Paul O’Sullivan on SAA, Digital Vibes and Gupta ‘fixer’ Kuben Moodley – Biznews
Video
Pandora Papers: 5 things to know – The Street
How CO2 is recycled into diamonds – Reuters
Coal price surge makes India a target rich investment environment – AusBiz
Download the news aggregator app SAccess, available on Google Play and the App Store, to stay on top of business and market news from around the world.
