Tag: electricity generation

While Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) mammoth energy requirements have been widely publicised, its water footprint receives far less attention. World Water Day, celebrated on 22 March 2025, provides an opportunity to highlight AI’s lesser-known environmental impact - its water usage.

In a welcome twist for South African businesses juggling cost pressures with environmental targets, sustainable hotels are emerging as an unexpected solution. Companies switching to green accommodation are discovering significant savings alongside meaningful reductions in their carbon footprint.

e-Waste from electrical and electronic appliances and devices is becoming a major problem for South Africa. According to Gauteng’s government website, the country produces around 360,000 tons of e-waste every year, with the province accounting for 55% of that volume.

The global economic backdrop continues to improve gradually but great amounts of uncertainty remain. While most of the major central banks are now likely at the peak of their rate hiking cycles, inflation remains sticky and sustained high levels of interest rates are having a dampening impact on economic growth.

Badly-run municipalities do more than just annoy residents and lead to rubbish pile-ups – they can also be a slippery slope to wide-scale economic decline. For urban centres in particular, the signs of a badly run municipality soon become impossible to ignore, symptomatic of a loss of confidence in the economic viability of the area and fears that crime rates will rise as opportunists capitalise on vacant buildings.

Can switching to renewable energy solve climate change? More than 90% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are now covered under targets set by countries and corporations, after COP26 last year, and more than 700 of the world’s largest corporations have set Net Zero targets.

The electricity crisis in South Africa is self-inflicted. This has become clear from the many costly disruptions in electricity supply over too long a period. There is something fundamentally amiss with government policy in this area. At the centre of the problem is Eskom, the leviathan which enjoys monopolistic protection shielded from potential competition.

There is a saying; ‘oil and water don’t mix’. While that may be true on a meta-physical level, it isn’t true when it comes to Africa’s energy needs. With the population of the continent expected to double by 2100 this creates a daunting energy challenge, combined with rising expectations of improved resilience and sustainability.

Following our recent announcement that we have joined the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, we have highlighted the urgent need for a tangible commitment by the local asset management industry through the establishment of a South Africa-centric low carbon and socially inclusive listed equity investment benchmark.

During the years of Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidency South Africans have understandably become a tad cynical when his annual State of the Nation (SONA) takes place. Typically filled with big promises, his presidency is likely to be remembered for under-delivery.