Andrew Marquard – The Conversation

Emissions from the Sappi-Saiccor paper pulp mill in uMkhomazi, south of Durban, South Africa. Gift777/Getty Images

February 24, 2026

South Africa’s carbon tax should stay: climate scientists explain why

Britta Rennkamp, University of Cape Town; Andrew Marquard, University of Cape Town; Gina Ziervogel, University of Cape Town; Harald Winkler, University of Cape Town; Mark New, University of Cape Town; Melanie Murcott, University of Cape Town; Ralph Hamann, University of Cape Town, and Wikus Kruger, University of Cape Town

Polluting companies in South Africa have had to pay a tax on their carbon emissions since 2019. This gives them a good incentive to reduce emissions.

Outside a coal burning power station in Witbank. Companies will now pay each time they emit a ton of greenhouse gases. Shutterstock

May 30, 2019

Harald Winkler, University of Cape Town and Andrew Marquard, University of Cape Town

South Africa will introduce the carbon tax which should be used to ensure benefits to poor communities.

Protests at the Brandenburg Gate, in Berlin, against the US withdrawal from the Paris climate change deal. Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

July 3, 2017

Niklas Höhne, Wageningen University; Andrew Marquard, University of Cape Town, and William Wills, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

An expert report shows that the G20 countries are using their energy more efficiently. But there is still a long way to go.