Is it really the case that ‘polluters pay’ in South Africa - The truth is that our carbon tax is way too low to act as a real deterrent
, with no repercussions), a contract that “ensures” that climate change is addressed efficiently).
This must have come as a relief to energy-intense companies such as Eskom, as this meant that they had dodged a bullet. Households would also enjoy a couple of years of not having electricity price hikes. Along with this commitment, South Africa made a policy development that focused on the country’s carbon tax. On 18 February, thewas introduced as an “effective climate change response and a long-term, just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.”
Together with the revenue made by carbon tax earnings, the submitted national determined contributions should help build resilience to adapting to rising temperatures. This suggests that although officials are aware of the stress the environment is under, putting polluters under the magnifying glass and holding them accountable is not the main priority. According to the minister of forestry, fisheries and the environmental affairs, Barbara Creecy: “We may not be using a ban. But that doesn’t mean that plastic producers have the latitude to do nothing”.