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It’s been said before but bears repeating: SA is first rate at drafting policies but often falls short on implementation. Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury to repeat this pattern when transforming our coal-driven economy, which piles significant expectations on the man at the helm, forestry, fisheries and & environment minister Dion George.
After the first 100 days in office of both the minister and his deputies, Bernice Swarts and Narend Singh, they have announced a review of the ministry’s regulatory frameworks to simplify procedures, but still little is known about his plans for climate policy.
Climate watchers have been on tenterhooks since President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the formation of a government of national unity (GNU) in June, and George was installed as environment minister in July. Before taking up this position he had served as the DA’s federal finance chair, so detail of his climate reform policy is largely unknown. Yet these unknown hands have the power to transform SA or hold us back.
During an interview on SABC News in August, some of that uncertainty was softened when George discussed his priority wish list, starting with a commitment to implement the 2025 Decarbonisation Pledge and support the just energy transition towards a low-carbon economy. He also addressed his seeming lack of experience in this complex field, noting that he brought a fresh perspective and was consulting widely.
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