Let's Do Our Own Load shedding

South Africa is the world's 14th largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Its CO2 emissions are principally due to?a heavy reliance on coal. ?Many Governments and most individuals verbalizes a commitment to lessen our impact on the environment and limit future impacts of climate change.

But the present anger and same-o /same-o solutions by civil society, individuals, Corporates and our Government ?in S.A. regarding the ongoing load shedding?makes me a question our real commitment to a more sustainable way of living. Some examples.

1.???Companies/Corporates like Shoprite, South African Breweries, Anglo American etc. have announced that they plan to circumvent load shedding by going off grid – i.e. solar.?

• Is it because they generators they ran [on diesel or petrol and which just replaced coal power stations gas emissions] ?on lower levels of load shedding cannot cope on level 5 and 6.
• Is it because not being able to trade is impacting on their bottom line
• Why only now??Because these noises are only being made now I believe it is not because of sustainability of our living environment but a financial decision, which does not bode well for action outside of a crisis ?or corporate marketing opportunity.

2.???Individuals, Families ?and others inconvenienced and suffering losses during load shedding

• Have we reduced our reliance on all things electrical in the past decade keeping in mind that the majority of our electricity comes from coal.?We might not be responsible for where our electricity comes from and we might not be in a position to change that – but we can /and should have start taking steps to decrease our use.[ that is if we care about the environment]
• When we teach our children to switch off lights – do we do this so that we lessen our impact on the environment or because electricity is expensive. ?When we switch from electric stove to gas – it is because of the environment?or due to electricity cost or load shedding.

To use a much used phrase – there needs to be a paradigm shift.

It will take decades to phase out electricity produced by coal. ?

• The time and money needed develop alternatives
• We need to plan for?jobs lost in coal sector what needs to be redistributed. ?
• Solar power or other alternatives is expensive and government and municipal attitudes do not help

And because it is going to take time that we do not have, we need ?as country, Corporates & Business, community, families and individuals do our own load shedding.

For a start let US commit to at ?1 000 MW of the national load to be shed – by reducing use