Earlier this week at the world climate talks in Copenhagen South Africa announced that the country plans to cut its carbon emissions by 34% by 2020. However, South Africa will need the support of “developed countries” to do so. This seems like a brilliant strategy. Most discussions about climate change for nations in Africa, Asia and Latin America center around the idea that the developing world has been able to develop its industrial economies, has done the lion’s share of polluting, and now wants to force “developing countries” (scare quotes intentional to indicate that these terms are not my favorite but they provide shorthand that just about everyone understands) to adhere to standards that those already ahead of the curve never had to meet. It’s a legitimate argument. But it is also one that does not get us anywhere.
South Africa’s approach is a good one: We want to do it. We recognize that we need to do it. But we cannot do it alone. Help us.
That South Africa stands as the most “developed” country in Sub-Saharan Africa and as a regional leader can only help matters. If South Africa can find a way to coerce the US and Europe to help support its goals to reduce emissions other countries will inevitably follow, not lease because their own economies are so closely tied to South Africa’s. South Africa’s announcement is good policy. It’s also a good strategy. And great politics. After all, the announcement led Greenpeace to call South Africa “one of the stars of the negotiations.”
