SA will decarbonise at an affordable pace & scale to economy & society - Ramaphosa

JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa said that South Africa would decarbonise at an affordable pace and scale to the economy and society. 

Ramaphosa was speaking at the climate resilience symposium in Tshwane on Monday.

The country is still heavily reliant on coal for the production of electricity.  

READ: Ramaphosa says natural disasters are affecting the country's public finances

The president said that the country must confront the reality that the carbon intensity of the economy was unsustainable.

"If we act too fast, we risk damaging huge sections of our economy before we have built alternative energy and industrial capabilities. At the same time, not acting now risks our economic stability. We must embrace a managed transition to a low-carbon economy, not only to safeguard our people and our environment, but to ensure our economic resilience and growth. We are facing a climate emergency," said Ramaphosa.