Dr Dion George, Minister of Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, said South Africa (SA) is uniquely positioned to become a leader in the green economy.
This is due to SA’s renewable energy potential, forestry-based carbon markets, and sustainable fisheries sector.
George said the Department is prioritizing cutting red tape and boosting investor confidence. The Department is also streamlining environmental approvals and licensing processes to ensure investors can move from planning to execution faster.
The country also plans to align with the Global Green Finance Movement.
“Investors at Davos made it clear that capital is moving toward sustainable projects. Our government must ensure that South Africa is positioned as a leading destination for climate finance and green investment, which includes partnering with the private sector to scale up renewable energy projects and green infrastructure” said Dr George.
Carl Roothman, CEO of Sanlam Investments, said ahead of the Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES) 2025, next week, last year, investments were committed towards over 30 green projects valued at more than US$1.4 billion.
Roothman also said “in 2025, we need a unified focus on investing in solutions that address Africa’s most urgent challenges, such as clean energy, resilient infrastructure and climate change, while offering investors the prospects of compelling investment outcomes.”