#ThumaMina:
A call on the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to commit to initiating policy reforms that fully excludes coal-fired power infrastructure financing.
#ThumaMina: Heed the call, say no to coal DBSA.
The impacts of climate change are being felt in South Africa today more than ever, and developing new coal infrastructure will accelerate climate extremes in an already water stressed country. In order to avoid catastrophic climate change, no new coal infrastructure should be built.
As a Development Finance Institution, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has a key role to play in ensuring that South Africa is not left behind in a transition away from coal. The Development Bank has a duty to ensure that its infrastructure financing strategies are in the wider public interest and that they are not funding a harmful coal industry which is driving the climate crisis.
Instead, DBSA can play a bigger role in scaling up action on climate change and delivering on South Africa’s fair share of limiting global temperature rise to no more than 1.5C.
We’re calling on the DBSA to publicly commit to initiating lending and investment policy reforms that fully exclude coal financing from the banks infrastructure funding programme. It is an opportunity for them to stand out and be a leader amongst financiers in South Africa, and not waiver from fulfilling their development aims of improving affordable energy access for all South Africans.
Ask the DBSA not to fund Thabametsi:
350Africa is calling on the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to publically commit to not funding Thabametsi coal-fired power station.
The impacts of climate change are being felt in South Africa today more than ever, and developing another power plant in a water-stressed region stands to threaten communities living in Lephalale. In order to avoid catastrophic climate change, no new coal infrastructure should be built.
While we welcome the Development Bank’s investments in renewable energy initiatives, these positive steps risk being undermined by support for coal infrastructure. Instead, DBSA can play a bigger role in scaling up action on climate change and delivering on the ambitions that South Africa committed to during the global climate talks held in Paris in 2015.
The Life After Coal campaign has made great strides towards stopping Thabametsi and other coal-fired power station projects from going ahead, and we are joining this struggle, focusing on the institutions financing Thabametsi.
We’re calling on the DBSA to commit to not financing Thabametsi coal-fired power plant. It is an opportunity for them to stand out and be a leader amongst financiers in South Africa, and not waiver from fulfilling their development aims of improving affordable energy access for all South Africans.
Add your name to this petition!
350Africa is calling on the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to publically commit to not funding Thabametsi coal-fired power station because of the devastating effects this will have in Lephalale, Limpopo, South Africa.
Emissions from Thabametsi are going to be far worse than Eskom’s newest coal-fired power stations, Medupi and Kusile, and even worse than some of the country’s older power plants. Thabametsi should not even be considered because it uses some of the most polluting coal-burning technologies, with a contribution to climate change to match. What is worse, is that the effects of coal on many South Africans are insurmountable. Poor health, conflict, broken homes are but some of the effects of coal.
While we applaud the DBSA’s backing of renewable energy initiatives in South Africa, these positive steps run the risk of being undermined by pouring money into projects like Thabametsi. Renewable energy like wind and solar is not only cleaner but cheaper. Renewable energy works.
We’re calling for a shift in South Africa’s energy system and that begins with putting a stop to plans for any new coal infrastructure. This May, your petition will be delivered to the DBSA as part of a wider regional movement for a coal-free Africa.
Here’s how we’re going to get the DBSA to #ThumaMina:
Plan #1
Stop The Money
Encourage the DBSA management, as responsible leaders, to rise to the occasion, listen to the calls for accountability and show that they care about the citizens of this country by stopping investments in coal and moving towards renewables. →
Plan #2
Building A Movement
Together we can get our leaders to think about us, to listen to our calls for action, to invest properly and to ensure a better legacy for our children. →
Plan #3
Power Shift
It is a new era for South Africa. Out with coal and in with the new. Now is not the time for South Africa to take unnecessary risks as it looks for ways out of energy poverty. It is your chance to show progress, to ensure sustainable energy, to encourage investment in the right energy sources and to inspire new and cleaner investment. It is the new way. →