Government spokesman Themba Maseko said that South Africa will oppose any international treaty to reduce carbon emissions if it cuts the country’s economic growth rate. He stressed that developed nations have a great responsibility to cut carbon emissions.
“We believe that other developing nations in the African continent, in other parts of the world, are likely to support [South Africa’s position],” Maseko said.
The UN aims to reach agreement on a new accord to combat climate change at a meeting in Copenhagen that begins on Dec. 15. South Africa is the world’s 13th-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, according to a survey released by U.K.-based risk assessment company Maplecroft. It found the average South African contributes 10.04 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each year compared to 20.58 tons per capita in top-ranked Australia and 19.78 tons in the second ranked US.
“There is acceptance that we need to diversify our energy sources, but to suggest that we reduce reliance on coal before we grow alternative sources of energy is unrealistic,” Maseko said.