How serious is corporate South Africa's green energy plans?

Stephen Grootes speaks to Just Share’s executive director Tracey Davies to unpack whether South African companies’ green energy commitments are genuine — or just hot air.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below.

South Africa's transition to a green economy has been marked by ambitious plans and significant investments.

However, questions linger about the tangible progress of corporate green energy initiatives.

Are these plans substantive, or are they merely aspirational statements lacking concrete action?

Speaking to Stephen Grootes on The Money Show, Just Share’s executive director Tracey Davies says there are definitely companies that are slow in making the transition to renewable energy.

"There are some companies that are worse offenders than others, and you generally tend to find that those companies which have a particularly high carbon footprint, or a particularly high impact on nature and the environment or some serious social impact, are the ones that are better at spinning than at executing."

- Tracey Davies, executive director - Just Share

"There are lots of ways to greenwash and to talk yourself up when you're not really doing what you make it sound as if you're doing."

- Tracey Davies, executive director - Just Share

"There is a lot of investment in private sector renewable energy, whether it's embedded generation or large-scale renewable energy development. But I think it's important to know and understand that just because one is investing in renewable energy, or trying to put solar panels on your carpark roof, doesn't mean everything you're doing from a sustainability point-of-view is hunky-dory."

- Tracey Davies, executive director - Just Share  

Scroll to the top of the article to listen to the full interview.