South Africa

Country indicators

GDP per capita - gross domestic product divided by midyear population. GDP is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. (Source: World Bank)

GDP per capita
(USD):

6,748.23

Fossil fuel subsidies (USD, billions) - All consumer and producer pre-tax subsidies. Pre-tax consumer subsidies exist when energy consumers pay prices that are below the costs incurred to supply them with this energy. (Source: IMF)

Fossil fuel subsidies (USD, billions):

3.74

Fossil Fuel Subsidies as % of GDP - All consumer and producer pre-tax subsidies as percent of a country’s GDP. (Source: IMF)

Fossil fuel subsidies
(% of GDP):

1.07

Fossil Fuel Subsidies with externalities as % of GDP - All consumer and producer post-tax subsidies. Post-tax consumer subsidies exist if consumer prices for energy are below supply costs plus the efficient levels of taxation. (Source: IMF)

Fossil fuel subsidies with externalities (% of GDP):

13.64

Revenue from environmentally related taxes as % of GDP - All revenue from environmentally related taxes - defined as any compulsory, unrequited payment to general government levied on tax-bases deemed to be of particular environmental relevance – as percent of a country’s GDP. (Source: OECD)

Revenue from environmentally related taxes (% of GDP):

2.685

Carbon pricing gap - Measure of how much countries fall short of pricing carbon emissions in line with a EUR 60 benchmark value (midpoint estimate of the carbon costs in 2020 and a low-end estimate for 2030). The difference is presented as percentage: If the Effective Carbon Rate (ECR) on all emissions is at least as high as the benchmark, the gap is zero, and if the ECR is zero throughout, the gap is 100%. (Source: OECD)

Carbon Pricing Gap
(%):

News

BRICS summit is likely to strongly oppose carbon tax proposed by EU

2021-09-16

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa may strongly oppose the proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) by the European Union at the 13th BRICS Summit on Thursday as the five developing countries will likely be the biggest losers from its implementation. In a veiled reference to CBAM, BRICS trade ministers last week cautioned that any measure to tackle climate change must be in conformity with multilateral trading rules and shouldn’t put arbitrary restrictions on international trade.

South Africa carbon tax to align to UN treaties

2021-08-12

South Africa’s carbon tax laws are set to change with the international frameworks it aligns to, as reflected in the latest amendment to the carbon offset regulations.

EU’s border tax gives countries 5 years to clean up industries or face penalties

2021-07-19

Unpopular among the bloc’s trading partners, countries are seeking exemptions to the carbon levy, as Brussels hints alternatives to pricing may be considered to dodge the tax The European Union

Reports

Beyond Fossil Fuels: Fiscal transition in BRICS (IISD 2019)

2020-01-22

The BRICS—Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—are both influencing and being influenced by global energy markets and the clean energy transition. This report by the IISD focuses on the

State of South African City Finances (SACN)

2018-11-08

In its annual State of City finances report, the South African Cities Network (SACN) makes a number of recommendations for tackling challenges facing the finances of nine of the largest

Taxing Energy Use 2015 (OECD)

2017-05-05

This OECD report provides a systematic analysis of the structure and level of energy taxes in OECD and selected partner countries, which together cover 80% of global energy use. The

Policy Briefs

Update on the Operationalisation of the Carbon Tax – Carbon Budget Mitigation System (South Africa)

2021-03-10

On 23 February 2021, the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), Government of South Africa gave a presentation at the Portfolio Committee Meeting on the Operationalisation of the Carbon

South Africa – Country profile

2017-03-30

Background South Africa is a middle-income emerging economy with abundant natural resources including minerals (gold, iron ore, coal, platinum, and diamonds among others) and timber. It is mostly semi-arid with

South Africa

Country indicators

News

BRICS summit is likely to strongly oppose carbon tax proposed by EU

South Africa carbon tax to align to UN treaties

EU’s border tax gives countries 5 years to clean up industries or face penalties

Reports

Beyond Fossil Fuels: Fiscal transition in BRICS (IISD 2019)

State of South African City Finances (SACN)

Taxing Energy Use 2015 (OECD)

Policy Briefs

Update on the Operationalisation of the Carbon Tax – Carbon Budget Mitigation System (South Africa)

South Africa – Country profile

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