COP27 silence on China, India speaks volumes

Much easier to shake SA’s tree because it is readily manipulated low-lying fruit, writes Trevor Mdk.

China and India are reported to be the highest consumers of coal which contributes to carbon emissions, greenhouse effects and climate change.

However, there seems to be a deafening silence from COP27 regarding these two coal-hungry countries.

Or maybe l have not read the relevant reports addressing this issue.

On the African continent, COP27’s turrets are aimed at malleable SA for reasons beyond comprehension, except for the country’s 85% dependence on coal for energy production.

With coal reserves estimated to last for the next 200 years, SA’s coal export market has been vibrant over the years and contributed towards the country’s gross domestic product.

The act of discouraging the heavy reliance on coal of the two elephants in the room, China and India, could present a double-edged sword by slowing down their economic activities and arresting growth while simultaneously snuffing out SA’s coal exporting industry. But it’s much easier to shake the latter’s tree because it is readily manipulated low-lying fruit.

It is imaginable that Sasol’s petrochemical industrial output could increase if coal destined for international markets were diverted to generate relief at the pumps in terms of the cost of petrol.

But then I am no economist and my views could be regarded as overly simplistic, with little understanding of economics and market forces.

It would be interesting to hear other people’s views on this matter.