Carbon Tax Act: An Effective Mitigation Tool for South Africa

Jon-Dylon Petersen; Opeoluwa Akinradewo; Hendri Du Plessis

Abstract:

Amidst growing global urgency to address climate change, South Africa has introduced the Carbon Tax Act as a legislative measure to curb greenhouse gas emissions within the built environment, a significant contributor to the nation's carbon footprint. Utilizing a survey-based methodology, this study gauges the awareness, attitudes, and perceived implications of the Carbon Tax Act among various professionals in the construction sector, including architects, engineers, and quantity surveyors. The findings indicate consensus on the necessity of the carbon tax, with most respondents acknowledging the role of the built environment in exacerbating greenhouse gas emissions. However, considerable variability exists in the awareness of the Act's specifics and its phased implementation, pointing to a substantial information gap. Furthermore, respondents expressed mixed feelings about the tax's potential impact on construction costs, with a tendency towards scepticism regarding its efficacy in reducing emissions without significant economic repercussions. Based on these insights, the study suggests several recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the Carbon Tax Act. These include intensifying educational and communication efforts to bridge the knowledge gap, engaging more comprehensively with industry stakeholders, and fostering research into sustainable building technologies and practices. The successful implementation of these strategies is critical for ensuring that the Carbon Tax Act achieves its environmental objectives while maintaining economic stability in the built environment sector.