Economic recovery from COVID-19 relies on the green economy

22nd September 2021

     

Font size: - +

By Janavi Da Silva, Director of Programmes at GreenMatter

Looking at the socio-economic blow South Africa was dealt by the pandemic, causing job losses and widespread devastation as well as exacerbating environmental issues, governments must ensure economic recovery plans are heavily geared toward the development of the green economy. 

Sustainable economic recovery cannot be achieved by simply returning to economic activity in the pre-COVID sense. Not only will this leave South Africa vulnerable to economic collapse in the event of future unforeseen disruptions (like pandemics), but it also does not serve the environmental goals of the country, or the world at large. 

It’s no secret that climate change, biodiversity loss, waste management and air and water pollution were problems that the world faced long before the onslaught of COVID-19. A great deal of these challenges is the result of commercial activity such as the manufacturing of goods made from non-recyclable materials, resource inefficiency and a lack of strict policing on the disposal of harmful chemicals used in the production of some of the world’s most in-demand goods and services. 

However, these challenges became even bigger issues as a result of the pandemic. While CO2 emissions and water quality did see slight improvements in 2020 as a result of people being under lockdown and there being no cars on the road, the pandemic left other issues in its wake. For instance, medical waste in the form of discarded PPE gear has become an additional environmental challenge to contend with. 

Job losses due to the COVID-19 outbreak have also been a major challenge facing the country, with South Africa’s unemployment rate reaching a record high of 34.4% in the second quarter of 2021 – an increase from 32.6% in the first quarter.

Developing South Africa’s green economy, with targeted environmental policies put in place by government, ensures more investment from private and public entities is channelled into environmentally responsible economic activities, infrastructure, and assets. This in turn reduces carbon emissions, promotes resource efficiency, and prevents biodiversity loss, all while pursuing economic growth that does not degrade the environment.

The green economy also paves the way for more employment opportunities through the creation of ‘green jobs’. Contrary to popular belief, these are not careers reserved for people who are considered activists or ‘eco warriors’, but those who will advocate for the environment in their specific capacities and professional contexts. This could range from graduates in natural science fields to, for example, a law graduate focuses on environmental concerns.

Creating an enabling environment for these graduates from all walks of life and learning backgrounds is an essential part of building the green economy. As the future custodians of the country’s natural heritage, South Africa must ensure it nurtures talent and prepares graduates across sectors to pursue sustainable green careers. 

It’s for this reason that initiatives like the GreenMatter Fellowship exists. The programme is designed to equip graduates of all disciplines with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace, to advocate for the environment and to help sustainably manage our natural resources for the benefit of all South Africans for generations to come.

The road to economic recovery from the devastating effects of COVID-19 is certainly not an easy one, and there is simply no way South Africa can return to economic activity in the traditional sense and expect to make a real recovery, much less a sustainable one. Ensuring the country’s economic recovery plan is geared for sustainability and environmental conservation is the key to building a thriving, resilient economy. 

 

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

The functionality you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION