This study evaluates the occurrence of decoupling of CO 2 emissions from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa (SA) for the period of 1990 to 2012 by using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Tapio methods, and identifies the primary CO 2 emissions driving forces by the Kaya identity. The results showed a strong decoupling during the period of 2010-2012, which is considered as the best development situation. In 1994-2010 SA had a weak decoupling; while during the period 1990-1994, the development in SA presented an expansive negative decoupling state. The comparison of the OECD and Tapio's methods showed well-correlated results but differed in their applications; however, the OECD method appeared as the simpler one. The results of Kaya identity demonstrated that the increase in population, GDP per capita and deteriorating energy efficiency were the main primary driving forces for the increase of CO 2 emissions. It is suggested that SA can expand the share of renewable energy and promote green energy technology in addition to better strategies of the demand side management (DSM) to raise the efficiency of energy consumption as well as CO 2 emission reductions. The methods used in this research can be applied to other countries with similar situations to evaluate the trends of energy consumption and CO 2 emissions and an aid to decision-making tool for better sustainable development.
In 2013, the electricity sector was the largest source of South Africa's CO 2 emissions, accounting for about 60% of its total. South Africa (SA) is one of the highest CO 2 emitters on a per capita basis when compared to many developed and developing countries. For a better understanding of the driving forces leading the electricity-related CO 2 emission per person, this paper applies the Log Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) to analyze the influence of the factors which ruled electricity generation-related CO 2 emission in SA over the period 1990-2013. We focused on coal which is the dominant fuel used in SA for electricity generation. The results show that the electricity generation intensity effect plays the dominant role in decreasing CO 2 emissions. However, the effect of economic activity is the major determinant that contributes to increasing CO 2 emissions. In order to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions levels, meet the agreement of the COP21 agreement, and fight against CO 2 emissions per-capita associated with electricity generation, it is recommended that SA's government should improve the efficiency of its existing electricity power generation plants and expand more of its renewable energy sources (nuclear included).
This paper analyzed the energy consumption and CO 2 emission from 18 industrial sectors, and also evaluated the direct and indirect energy consumption and CO 2 emission of changes in the final demand of South Africa's (SA) economy. To accomplish this goal, the input-output linkage and multiplier methods have been applied to investigate the interconnectedness of the 18 sectors' input-output tables for the years 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2012, and to measure their total impact of energy commodity input coefficients and CO 2 emissions output coefficients for the year 2012. Results revealed that the electricity sector has a weak linkage with others sectors, which means it is mostly independent of other sectors. In another words, it does not induce and enable economic growth. Moreover, two sectors, such as Chemical and Petrochemical Industries and Basic Metals, were found as key sectors in SA's economy in 1995, 2000 and 2012. In 2005 and 2010, only Chemical and Petrochemical Industries was the most important sector in SA. Additionally, Commercial and Public Services was the strongest forward linkage sector in SA. Our findings also showed that the electricity sector was the main direct monetary energy consumer and CO 2 emitter, and therefore the most dominant source in terms of energy and CO 2 intensities among all the 18 sectors in SA. Furthermore, our investigation of the direct and indirect effects on energy consumption and CO 2 emissions indicated that both total of direct energy consumption and CO 2 emissions were higher than both total indirect energy consumption and CO 2 emissions. Finally, some potential suggestions on reducing the energy consumption and CO 2 emissions deduced from this study are discussed.
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