Feature story - September 19, 2011
Investing in South Africa’s incredible renewable energy sources, like the sun and wind, won’t only give South Africa huge energy rewards, but will also create 150,000 new jobs by 2030!
© Greenpeace / Nicolas Fojtu
The job creation potential of renewables is so potent, that even if climate change and energy security weren’t an issue for the country, investing in renewables would still make sense.
The benefits for the job market
Exciting figures from the International Renewable Energy Association show that if South Africa switched from fossil fuels to clean and safe renewable energy, we could create 150,000 new jobs by 2030!
The jobs that will be created in this new energy sector include those in construction, manufacturing, operations and maintenance, among others.
The benefits for the whole country
We’re united with the rest of the world in facing the challenges of climate change, but on top of that South Africa is also faced with the challenges of poverty and high unemployment rates.
Investing in renewables is about investing in people. Switching from dirty fossil fuels to renewables would go a long way in combatting these persistent social and economic problems.
It would be a win for energy security, a win for the climate and a great win for the economy. Few other industries offer as many opportunities as the emerging energy industry does in South Africa.
How can you get involved?
South Africa has some of the best renewable energy sources in the world, but sadly they have been overlooked in the past. The sun and the wind are practically begging to be used more.
Join our campaign to call on the government to use the sun and wind more.
Sign the petition and let’s make sure the government realises the true potential of renewable energy.