South Africa
Last updated: July 2024
South Africa has one of the most carbon-intensive economies in the world, since the country is dependent on fossil fuels in the electricity, industry and transport sectors. Coal amounts to approximately 75 percent of primary energy, which is equivalent to 85 percent of electricity production. However, the percentage of renewable energies in the electricity mix has risen sharply in recent years. The industrial sectors of the country, including the mining, metal and automotive industries, have developed alongside the fossil energy sector, leading to complex mutual dependencies.
Despite various intervention measures, the energy supply from predominantly old coal-fired power plants is not secure. Time and again, entire parts of the city have to be taken off the power grid for several hours to prevent the grid from collapsing completely.
This measure is referred to as “loadshedding”. The consequences for the population and for economy as a whole is tremendous. Therefore, the country is confronted with the great challenge of making the expansion of additional power generation capacities renewable and sustainable - and of developing a political strategy that takes economic growth and the South African climate and biodiversity targets into consideration.
Interface project
Most priority countries of the IKI also engage in so-called IKI interface projects, which have permanent project offices in the capital city of the respective country. Alongside their own, country-specific project commission, these interface projects are also tasked with maintaining close contact to environment and climate ministries as well as networking with other relevant ministries in the field of climate and biodiversity policy. Beyond this, the interface projects also work to network all of the IKI projects in the country and region together so as to promote synergies.
In South Africa, the interface function is currently represented by the project Climate Support Programme IV.
Project priorities
- Support of the DFFE in the implementation of national climate goals in the areas of climate change mitigation, adaptation to climate change and transparency, as well as consultation on the integration of the biodiversity aspect;
- Promotion of innovative financing streams;
- Support for the preparation of projects (climate action and biodiversity conservation);
- Function as an IKI interface: Promotion of dialogue on climate and biodiversity between the IKI projects in the country as well as between other actors (networking opportunities and knowledge management).
Project contact
Insights into the project work
- Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA)
- Clean captive installations for industrial clients in Sub-Sahara Africa
- Scale up climate finance through the financial sector – “30 by 30 Zero”
- CitiesAdapt - Strengthening Climate Change Adaptation in Cities
- Restoring Landscapes in South Africa (ReLISA): Nature-based solutions for climate, biodiversity and people - scoping…
- Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem
In a nutshell
Region: Southern Africa
Population: 59.9 million (World Bank, 2022)
CO2eq emissions (incl. LUCF): 508.4 million t (ClimateWatch, 2020)
CO2eq emissions per capita (incl. LUCF): 8.6 t (ClimateWatch, 2020)
Total energy supply (IRENA, 2020):
- 6 % RE (83 % Bioenergy - 2 % Hydro/marine - 15 % Solar)
- 14 % Oil
- 3 % Gas
- 2 % Nuclear
- 75 % Coal + others
IKI projects in the country (last updated in July 2024):
- bilateral: 7 ongoing, 11 completed
- regional: 3 ongoing, 6 completed
- global: 16 ongoing, 45 completed
IKI partner ministries:
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
- Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE)
- Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI)
- Department for Water and Sanitation (DWS)
- Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC)
The IKI Strategy
The IKI wants to maximise its impact on climate action and biodiversity conservation. To this end, it concentrates its funding activities on prioritised fields of action within the four funding areas. Another key element is the close cooperation with selected partner countries, especially with the IKI’s priority countries.
IKI partner countries
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