United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2030, entitled “Transforming our World” has tabled aspirations for urgent action on climate change.  COP 24, held in 2018 in Poland, wants greater urgency of action from all countries in managing carbon emissions. Human activity is the prime contributor to generating carbon emissions, primarily from electrical power generation from coal, oil and gas and transport driven by carbon based liquid fuels.  

South Africa has an abundance of coal. South African electricity generation is historically embedded in thermal coal power generation, owning and operating large power stations of typical capacities of 6 x 600 MW turbo-generators. Most recently, South African is busy adding another 12 X 800 MW super-critical turbo-generators. South African imports all its crude oil and natural gas. These are used extensively in transportation of persons and goods. The South African economy is totally based on the carbon economy.  Reducing the dependence on coal and liquid fuels will impact jobs and the economy.  The interdependencies are complex.

The paper presents the status of South Africa’s contributions to carbon emissions and the country’s aspirations as committed at COP 21.  The key performance indicators for the transition period of 2020 to 2050 are considered.  The paper concludes with a research proposal for developing strategies and quality standards of measurement and management in moving South Africa’s transition away from a carbon based economy over the next three decades.