The data indicates that total carbon dioxide emissions in South Africa have been gradually increasing since 2013, reaching 438.28 million metric tons in 2023. Year-on-year variations have shown relatively stable growth, particularly in recent years, with increases fluctuating just below 1%. Specifically, from 2022 to 2023, the emissions grew by 0.66%. Over the last five years, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was approximately 0.7%, indicating a consistent upward trend.
Forecasts for 2024 onwards suggest a continuation of this slow growth, culminating in emissions of 451.9 million metric tons by 2028. The forecasted CAGR for the next five years is expected to moderate slightly to 0.48%, with an overall growth rate of 2.44% over the same period.
Future trends to watch for include the impact of national policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, technological advancements in energy efficiency, shifts in energy consumption patterns, and international pressure for South Africa to meet its climate commitments.
