Economic Recovery From Covid-19 Relies On The Green Economy – Africa.com

Janavi Da Silva, Director of Programmes at GreenMatter

Looking at the socio-economic blow South Africa was dealt by the pandemic, causing job losses and widespread devastation as well as exacerbating environmental issues, governments must ensure economic recovery plans are heavily geared toward the development of the green economy.

Sustainable economic recovery cannot be achieved by simply returning to economic activity in the pre-COVID sense. Not only will this leave South Africa vulnerable to economic collapse in the event of future unforeseen disruptions (like pandemics), but it also does not serve the environmental goals of the country, or the world at large.

Its no secret that climate change, biodiversity loss, waste management and air and water pollution were problems that the world faced long before the onslaught of COVID-19. A great deal of these challenges is the result of commercial activity such as the manufacturing of goods made from non-recyclable materials, resource inefficiency and a lack of strict policing on the disposal of harmful chemicals used in the production of some of the worlds most in-demand goods and services.

However, these challenges became even bigger issues as a result of the pandemic. While CO2 emissions and water quality did seeslight improvementsin 2020 as a result of people being under lockdown and there being no cars on the road, the pandemic left other issues in its wake. For instance, medical waste in the form ofdiscarded PPE gearhas become an additional environmental challenge to contend with.

Job losses due to the COVID-19 outbreak have also been a major challenge facing the country, with South Africas unemployment rate reaching a record high of34.4%in the second quarter of 2021 an increase from32.6%in the first quarter.

Developing South Africas green economy, with targeted environmental policies put in place by government, ensures more investment from private and public entities is channelled into environmentally responsible economic activities, infrastructure, and assets. This in turn reduces carbon emissions, promotes resource efficiency, and prevents biodiversity loss, all while pursuing economic growth that does not degrade the environment.

The green economy also paves the way for more employment opportunities through the creation of green jobs. Contrary to popular belief, these are not careers reserved for people who are considered activists or eco warriors, but those who will advocate for the environment in their specific capacities and professional contexts. This could range from graduates in natural science fields to, for example, a law graduate focuses on environmental concerns.

Creating an enabling environment for these graduates from all walks of life and learning backgrounds is an essential part of building the green economy. As the future custodians of the countrys natural heritage, South Africa must ensure it nurtures talent and prepares graduates across sectors to pursue sustainable green careers.

Its for this reason that initiatives like theGreenMatter Fellowshipexists. The programme is designed to equip graduates of all disciplines with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace, to advocate for the environment and to help sustainably manage our natural resources for the benefit of all South Africans for generations to come.

The road to economic recovery from the devastating effects of COVID-19 is certainly not an easy one, and there is simply no way South Africa can return to economic activity in the traditional sense and expect to make a real recovery, much less a sustainable one. Ensuring the countrys economic recovery plan is geared for sustainability and environmental conservation is the key to building a thriving, resilient economy.

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Economic Recovery From Covid-19 Relies On The Green Economy - Africa.com