How to push the pedal yet emit less carbon?

By 2015 Africa needs to double its energy production... yet Africa only accounts for 3% of power production in the world. South Africa should show the developing world courage to lead in clever energy use.

There are a few feathers before we reach our cap:

- Integrated Reporting @JSE where SA measures its locally listed companies on Sustainabile operations.
- Renewable Country Attractiveness Index: SA rated among the top 35.
- Cost of wind turbines has dropped 66% in 4-5 years, solar panels by three quarters.
- Consumer behavioural change: Nedbank has devised an Investment Index, where individuals can invest in greener initiatives.
- The International Finance Corporation (IFC), which utilised 70+% coal-powered energy today employs 70% renewables.
- There has been a dramatic increase in wind turbine projects financed over the past 4 years.
- Applying blended finance to renewable energy projects works very well: rather combine forces with multilateral agencies than try to manage this with 'business as usual' mechanisms.
- Subsidies through carbon taxes and trade backed by a global drive towards renewables (think COP17 :).

So what are the bug-bears?

- The IFC will only be able to reach 100% renewable target when local countries can afford
- Why do international finance corporations and banks continue to view the environment as an externality? Why not quit shadow-pricing carbon and rather commit to full accounting on renewable finance structures?
- Greenpeace's global Sustinability manager reiterated her earlier panel session question around CCS - it is so expensive; it locks in money that could have gone to renewables, it takes too long to implement given the urgency of the problem.
- The tipping point? Again, oi weh... between shale gas, CCS, Greenpeace - that POINT is highly debated!
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