Greenpeace urges South Africa to end dependence on coal
Experts say poverty means Africa is ill able to adapt to severe weather changes forecast to be triggered by global warming, while African nations have been among the lowest emitters of the gases blamed for causing it.
South Africa relies on coal to generate much of its electricity. State utility Eskom has previously said it plans to cut emissions by reducing its reliance on coal and to expand future power output using mainly nuclear power stations.
"They need to spend more money not in nuclear power, but in renewable energy and energy efficiency," Amadou Kanoute, executive director of Greenpeace Africa, told Reuters.
The environmental group's office will be in Johannesburg, South Africa's commercial capital.
South Africa's government has said it aims to brake rising emissions. It presents a scenario under which emissions will rise until 2020-25, stay flat for up to a decade and then fall. It will set mandatory energy efficiency targets and a gradual shift away from coal.
A U.N. Climate Panel report last year, projected that up to 250 million people in Africa would be living in areas of stress on water supplies by 2020.
The lobby group said it had opened an office in Johannesburg as a first step to address climate change, deforestation and overfishing in Africa. It plans to open a second office in the Democratic Republic of Congo this month and another in Senegal next year.
"Africa is in a position to leapfrog dirty development and become a leader in helping to avert catastrophic climate change and protect the natural environment. We are here to help make that happen," Kanoute said.
Related News

Electricity prices may go up by 15 per cent
JERSEY CITY - Electricity prices could rise by ten to 15 per cent if a standby charge for some commercial customers is not implemented, the chief executive of Jersey Electricity has warned.
Jersey Electricity has proposed extending a monthly fee to commercial customers who generate their own power through renewable means but still wish to be connected to Jersey’s grid as a back-up.
The States recently unanimously backed a proposal lodged by Deputy Carolyn Labey to delay administering the levy until a review could be carried out. The charge, was due to be implemented next month but will now not be introduced until…