Drivers for renewable energy – environment or economy?

Abstract

Due to very effective media support the majority of people living in developed countries support the notion of using Renewable Energy in order to save the Environment from Global Warming. Developing nations generally cannot afford to commit themselves to a drastic energy switch (‘Energiewende’), abandoning coal as primary energy source or even gas or nuclear power. South Africa is blessed with large reserves of coal and uranium and their mines employ many people. In this paper the notion of Global Warming in the southern hemisphere is questioned, since the latest evidence favours naturally occurring Climate change. It therefore stands to reason that more searching questions of affordability are being asked as they pertain to developing countries.