South Africa is phasing out inefficient lighting in place of energy efficient lighting as part of concerted efforts to tackle climate change.
South Africa will become the first African nation to undertake a comprehensive national phase-out transition from inefficient lighting. The phase-out of inefficient lighting is one of the quickest, easiest and most effective ways to save energy and combat climate change. Electricity for lighting accounts for close to 20 per cent of total global electricity production and six per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. The en.lighten initiative aims to halve these emissions.
“If a global temperature rise is to be kept under 2 degrees C, we need to act on multiple fronts, including voluntary and legally binding actions. Fast
tracking more energy-efficient lighting is without doubt one of the low hanging fruit offering not only emissions saving but cost savings to a company or a household’s budget. This UNEP/GEF Global Partnership is switching off old bulbs and switching on a path to a more low-carbon, resource-efficient Green Economy.
The aim of achieving a global phase-out by 2016 is not only possible but
infinitely do-able,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director.
The UNEP/GEF en.lighten initiative was launched in September 2009 as a
globally coordinated effort to accelerate the transition to efficient lighting
and mitigate climate change. It is a partnership between UNEP, GEF, and private sector partners Osram AG, Philips Lighting and the National Lighting Test Centre of China (NLTC).
“The GEF is a champion of market efforts to expand efficient lighting to
developing countries throughout the world,” said Monique Barbut, CEO and
Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility. “en.lighten is the latest
initiative funded by the GEF in partnership with UNEP to accelerate market
transformation of efficient lighting technologies on a global scale. Through
this initiative, we are building a brighter future today and for the next
generations to come.”
UNEP has set an ambitious target date to phase-out inefficient incandescent
lamps globally by 2016. This is the first step in the transition to more
efficient lighting and a low-carbon, resource-efficient Green Economy. The
phase-out of inefficient lighting is one of the most important and easy
short-term initiatives that countries can implement to combat climate change and conserve financial resources in a time of global crisis.
At COP16 last year, en.lighten unveiled Country Lighting Assessments
detailing country savings from the shift away from inefficient incandescent
lamps to efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The total global savings
from phasing-out incandescent lamps amounts to the same emissions as over half of the annual international aviation sector, or the electricity consumed yearly by the United Kingdom and Denmark combined.
South Africa will be able to electrify over four million homes with the
electricity saved from phasing-out incandescent lamps.
South Africa will also become the first African country to phase-out
incandescent lamps following an integrated approach, including the development
of collection and recycling systems. Beginning in January 2012, the country
fully supports the 2016 global deadline for the phase-out of inefficient lamps
and will complete the phase-out by 2016.
“South Africa is working with UNEP and its Global Partnership to share these
lessons learned with other African countries willing to phase-out and reap the
benefits that a transition would bring,” said H.E. Ms. Duipo Peters, South
Africa’s Minister of Energy.
“We encourage all countries that have not yet phased-out inefficient lighting
to join the UNEP Global Partnership and work with us to move towards an
efficient lighting world to mitigate climate change,” she said
“South Africa faces important power shortages which will be greatly mitigated by the phase-out of incandescent lamps. The electricity saved by the phase-out will be directed to more pressing social needs. South Africa is committed to mitigating climate change. This measure is a key action to reduce CO2 emissions,” she added.
Over 25 developing countries from four continents have joined the Global
Efficient Lighting Partnership Program which has been established to support countries to design and implement national inefficient lighting phase-out strategies adapted to specific country conditions and requirements.
Uruguay was the first country to join the UNEP/GEF Global Partnership in
August 2011. Activities will begin in early 2012. The country has begun measures to waive taxes for efficient lighting technologies and to develop pilot projects to promote the collection of spent lamps.