South Africa Defends Use of Coal as It Seeks Progress on Climate
- Deputy energy minister says developing nations need energy
- Official notes Germany is also falling behind on targets
Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg
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South Africa’s deputy energy minister expects the latest round of climate talks will make global markets cleaner starting next year and defended her nation’s coal use as a way to reduce poverty.
“With the Germans, they can say ‘We’re moving from driving a Corolla to a BMW,’ while we are still trying to get the bicycle,” said Thembisile Majola, in an interview in London. “They’re talking about different technologies, we’re talking about access.”