Bloemfontein - The government is looking for partnerships to create
300 000 new jobs in the green economy, Water and Environmental Affairs
Minister Edna Molewa said on Tuesday.
"Our environment sector green economy implementation
plan has this year received a boost of R800m for the Green Fund
over the next two financial years," Molewa said at World Environment Day
celebrations.
The department would use the funding to attract new and
additional investments, stimulate job creation and lay the
foundations for South Africa's transition to a low carbon, job creating
and resource-efficient growth path.
Molewa said South Africa was also extending its
partnerships to international funding institutions such as the World
Bank Clean Technology Fund and the newly-established Green Climate Fund.
The country has entered into the Green Economy Accord,
which has been called one of the most comprehensive social pacts on
green jobs in the world.
Molewa said the implementation of the projects would
offer the opportunity to close the scarce skills gap in this
sector.
"We have observed that it was insufficient and needed to be supplemented by formal training at higher learning institutions."
Molewa said the department would soon launch the first
phase of countrywide green hubs, with various satellite and regional
operations.
The project would be launched in Mangaung where more
job opportunities would be created as part of the department's waste
management strategy, which also focuses on job creation.
"Waste is wealth and we aim to prove that in line with
our efforts to reduce, re-use and recycle waste, we could create job
opportunities for all our young people," said Molewa.