Climate change ranked as third greatest concern for South Africans – Climate Barometer

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Interview starts at the 21:02 mark

JEREMY MAGGS: Well, from mining, let’s move to the environment now and ahead of the start of Cop28 (Conference of the Parties), there’s a new Climate Barometer survey out by a global technology company, and it reveals new insights around South Africans’ attitudes and behaviours towards climate change, the imminent climate crisis, and what action needs to be taken to make any sort of difference for the betterment of the environment.

I’m suspecting here, having read the report, that there is some good news. Timothy Thomas, country manager of Epson MEA, is with us now. Firstly, Timothy, then broadly, how do South Africans feel about climate change?

TIMOTHY THOMAS: A lot of the survey feedback came through in that over 30 000 respondents participated in the survey, and within the South African context, climate change ranked as the third most important issue facing South Africans. That was behind poverty and inflation. We fully understand some of those challenges that we experience in South Africa today.

But it was encouraging in the fact that people recognise the looming effect of climate change.

What was also really interesting for us was this was the first survey that also took into account what we call the Cop generation, so everyone born after 1995 when the first Cop event was held, and the younger generation do see climate change as something that can be solved within their lifetime, and that was encouraging. I think that’s one of the beauties of South Africa is that we are an optimistic nation by nature and so the opportunity to make a change is definitely there.

JEREMY MAGGS: Given the myriad challenges, Timothy, that this country faces, third place is actually quite surprising.

TIMOTHY THOMAS: It is. But it does recognise the fact that people are becoming more and more aware of climate change and especially when in a country like South Africa where we face regular power challenges, people do recognise the fact that we need to make changes in what we do, both in our personal lives as well as in our business lives.

The important thing is for everyone to make a small contribution towards improving it.

When we talk about the power challenges, a lot of the technology that is being developed today, in particular within the IT printing sector, is around new technology, technology which uses a lot less energy.

So as an example, for Epson inkjet printers today, they use 80% less electricity than the old laser devices, which we’ve become accustomed to over the last 10, 15, 20 years. So by using newer technologies, it really has helped shape the opportunity for us to make changes, which can only benefit both South Africa and the world.

JEREMY MAGGS: Does the survey in any way look at progress in terms of climate change mitigation?

TIMOTHY THOMAS: It does. A lot of that is also focused both on a personal level and what people do today in their personal lives. So when we talk about the use of single-use plastics as an example, when we did the first survey in 2021, only 63% of people really looked at single-use plastics and how they use it in their day-to-day lives. Two years later, 85% of people are now being a lot more conscious of single-use plastics. In the same way as they are about recycling, that increased from 62% right up to 71%.

So people are becoming a lot more conscious in their personal lives, but also within their professional and business environments as well. Businesses are recognising the need to become more focused around eco-friendly devices, devices which produce a lot less waste as opposed to some of the older technologies.

JEREMY MAGGS: That’s a very noble sentiment, but I’d contend that that take-up is very patchy though, isn’t it?

TIMOTHY THOMAS: It is all about taking it bit by bit, and we are seeing some really good progression in terms of public sector in particular, as well as within corporate South Africa, that businesses are becoming more responsive towards these greener technologies.

Adoption, we would always like it to be faster, and I think that is both in our personal lives and our professional lives, but we are encouraged by the fact that there is definitely a concerted effort from business in South Africa towards these greener, more eco-friendly technologies.

JEREMY MAGGS: But it’s not always mandatory when it comes to procurement policy though, is it?

TIMOTHY THOMAS: That’s correct, Jeremy. Unfortunately, none of these are at the moment gazetted by government. However, we are encouraged by the fact that businesses are beginning to make the changes themselves. I think that’s the important point behind climate change is the ability for us to be able to make an impact. It doesn’t matter how great or small it is, but as long as everyone starts to make a concerted effort. Hopefully, in the future, that will become a more stringent mandate. But in the meantime, it really is about business making a progressive change.

JEREMY MAGGS: And critical in that respect then that surveys like this and others, I guess, influence government policies and social movements. But you rightly say it’s got to be a whole lot more accelerated.

TIMOTHY THOMAS: That’s correct. I think that’s the other area which we really are encouraged by with Cop28 commencing in Dubai today, is the fact that there’s also a greater focus around the younger generation at Cop28 because ultimately, a lot of the decisions which we make today, we will only feel the effect five, 10, 15, 20 years later. So by having the younger generation, that Cop generation, involved in these key moments in time will really help us accelerate the change in the future as well.

JEREMY MAGGS: Timothy Thomas, thank you very much indeed.