Can Green Taxation Provide a Path to Post-pandemic Recovery in South Africa?

The coronavirus pandemic is first and foremost a public health tragedy. However, the pandemic, and the measures adopted to control its spread, have placed incredible pressure on social, health, and fiscal systems. As governments look to manage deficits and stimulate their economies to recover from the crisis, now is the time to consider what economic model will best support this process.

The Nordic example of fiscal policy is characterized by their pioneering introduction of energy and carbon taxation in the 1990s in response to a financial crisis. These measures have coincided with a boom in clean energy-related employment and a period of strong economic and environmental development. Could similar approaches work in South Africa or are there other strategies that are better suited to drive recovery here?

Green taxes, including taxes on road fuels, pollution and consumption are already a key part of South Africa’s fiscal system. In this webinar we will explore their role in the fiscal system and potential for expansion as part of measures to stimulate economic recovery in South Africa.

This webinar is being hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in collaboration with the Danish embassy in South Africa and the Finnish embassy in South Africa.

This webinar will attempt to answer the following questions:

1. What is the Nordic model of green fiscal policy and what can we learn from Nordic experience that could be relevant to fiscal policy debates in South Africa?
2. What role do green taxes play in South Africa’s fiscal system?
3. How can the fiscal system help South Africa to recover from the coronavirus pandemic?