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South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences

On-line version ISSN 2222-3436
Print version ISSN 1015-8812

S. Afr. j. econ. manag. sci. vol.12 n.3 Pretoria Oct. 2009

 

ARTICLES

 

Estimating the carbon emissions balance for South Africa

 

 

Alan C BrentI; Sibbele HietkampII; Russell M WiseIII; Kenney O'KennedyIV

IResource Based Sustainable Development, Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, School of Public Management and Planning, University of Stellenbosch
IIEnergy and Processes, Material Science and Manufacturing, CSIR
IIIResource Based Sustainable Development, Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR
IVCentre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, School of Public Management and Planning, University of Stellenbosch

 

 


ABSTRACT

The carbon footprint of materials and products is becoming an increasingly important factor in international trade. At present the carbon emissions balance of the South African economy is not well understood, especially the carbon emissions associated with imports and exports. An investigation was done of known economic input-output and life cycle analyses models addressing this shortcoming. The results reveal that South Africa is a major exporter of carbon; at least 129 per cent more carbon is associated with a dollar earned with exports than a dollar spent on imports, and the carbon footprint of the outflows on average, equates 37 per cent of the total carbon emissions of the economy. Such figures have serious policy-related implications in a future where international climate-change trade limitations will become stricter and binding.

JEL


 

 

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