SA not pulling its weight in climate change fight: Greenpeace

The organisation's Melita Steele has been commenting after United States President Barack Obama's announcement yesterday to reduce harmful emissions from American power plants by nearly a third within 15 years. 

South Africa is the 13th highest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, with almost 90% of the country's electricity coming from burning coal. 

Steele says although the country has plans to reduce emissions in the future it is concerning that the government is still going ahead with plans to build new coal fire power stations.

"South Africa needs to do a lot more to reduce emissions coming from coal which are leading us down a dead end highway to nowhere. What government should instead be investing in is renewable energy and energy efficiency which can take us out of our current electricity crisis and also help to prevent the worst impacts of climate change," she said. 

(File photo: Gallo Images)