Low carbon transformation and economic development. A conundrum 

Low carbon transformation is a concept where countries, their governments, societies and economies come together to ensure reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to achieve low carbon economies, low carbon societies and in a nutshell, zero emissions. The concept comes with a word transformation because the world has been built on the exploitation of fossil fuels and practices that have left the atmosphere heavily burdened with excess greenhouse gases. Therefore, there is need to transform from such ‘brown growth’ to ‘green growth’. The most topical issue after COVID -19 in the world right now is climate change. How to mitigate climate change, how to reduce temperature increases, how to adapt to already occurring climate change disaster and most controversially how to bring a balance between economic development and the climate change. A total of 25 COP meetings have been held since 1995. About 197 countries who are parties to the UNFCCC, meet annually to deliberate on climate change related issues and devise plans on how best to tackle the matter. Agreements and protocols have been set, signed and implemented. Results have been noted in terms of accepting that climate change is real and actions to try and mitigate and adapt to climate change have also been noted in different parts of the world.

The creation of global climate funds, implementation of clean energy mechanisms, green growth initiatives, resource efficiency, research and development, capacity building among others, are some of the actions that are being implemented globally. Global climate action is however not uniform across the world as the world is defined by developed countries and the developing countries which have different capabilities to manage climate change scenarios. The unfortunate part is developing countries are the least emitters and yet they are the most affected.

Over the years, developed countries such as the United States of America and economic giants such as China have been growing their economies through the use of fossil fuels and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources contributing chronically to climate change. The developed countries now have the economic muscle and are even fighting to achieve economic supremacy. The developing countries on the other hand are pushing to ensure a boost in their economies. Zimbabwe for example, is working towards achieving upper middle class economy by 2030. All its sectors are open for business and exploitation to build on revenue generation and growing the economy. It is believed that economic independence is key to high quality of life and improved livelihoods. In the context of climate change such development affords countries the ability to implement mitigation plans, adaptation plans and thereby reducing their vulnerability to devastating climate change scenarios and building climate resilience.

The interesting part is, every country wants to be free of climate change and every country wants to be better prepared for climate change. Whilst, at the same time, every country wants to grow its economy, improve the livelihoods of its citizens and every country wants to be better prepared financially for when other disasters such as Covid-19 hit, hence the conundrum. What then do we sacrifice for the other? Both factors are life determining and life threatening and are also interdependent. Climate change; if unabated is likely to cripple economies and economic development if not sustainable will contribute to the increase in climate change severity. Covid-19, a pandemic that hit the world in 2020 and is still causing havoc in some parts of the world. It has already shown signs of how economies can be affected by environmental or rather natural disasters. It is better to take heed and ensure robust action.

As has always been said, ‘necessity is the mother of invention’, scientists and business people are cracking their heads to find a way in which to ensure economic development that does not continuously cause greenhouse gas emissions, inefficient use of resources, causes pollution and destroys natural carbon sinks. It has been noted by scholars and practitioners that the best way to mitigate climate change and contribute towards the Paris Agreement goal of achieving a minimum increase of 2^oC above pre-industrial levels can only be through achieving zero emissions. However, this is not practical to achieve instantly thus calling for low carbon transformation a concept that can be implemented by nations to achieve low carbon development, low carbon economies, low carbon societies and a low carbon world in the long run.