The International Energy Agency (IEA) has cautioned against the continued use of fossil fuels as well as the investment into non-renewable resources such as oil and gas.
“The exploitation and development of new oil and gas fields must stop this year and no new coal-fired power stations can be built if the world is to stay within safe limits of global heating and meet the goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” the world’s leading energy organisation has said.
Despite many countries committing to the use of less non-renewable resources, the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has chosen to pump more investment and funds towards the growth of extractive development. The use of Karpowerships to mitigate Eskoms electricity crisis has come under massive scrutiny with environmental groups such The Green Connection.
“Livelihoods will be destructed if oil and gas companies will continue drilling as there is a lot at risk in terms of environmental degradation and loss of marine habitats. More importantly, fishing communities depend on the ocean for putting food on the table said,” Liz Mcdaid from Green Connection.
Energy expert Chris Yelland stated that, “the government’s decision to secure these ships demonstrates how dire our electricity crisis is. Still, it also illustrates how myopic our government is in its vision and that they do not foresee rectifying this crisis for the next 20 years and are applying a short-term solution to a long-term problem, all the while creating environmental, economic and social damage along the way.”