South Africans already pay three carbon taxes, so why is government imposing another one?

Dorah Nteo, the chief sustainability specialist for the Tshwane municipality said, “What has been introduced effectively is the fuel levy for motor vehicles, rather than broader carbon tax. That is because with cars you have a choice between big cars or small ones, there are alternatives.”
However, the structure of our economy coupled with a poor growth outlook, means that taxes like the CO² Tax will further affect South Africa’s global competitiveness without effecting any meaningful climate change objectives and therefore should be relooked, says Shaun Nel, Director of Consulting at BDO South Africa.

“This is just another tax burden to make up for the budget deficit.” He goes on to say, “We actually already have three carbon taxes in place – an Environment levy on coal fired electricity, Fuel levy and the proposed Carbon budgets from Department of Environmental Affairs – so where does this further carbon tax fit in?” questions Nel.
The carbon tax will add significantly to revenue at a time of fiscal constraint as the Treasury estimates it could generate between R8bn and R30bn a year depending on final allowances and exemptions.

But Nel stresses that while there is no global agreement on a price for carbon tax so how can our government decide what price to tax this at, given that our global competitors have not priced carbon into their economies?”
It is noteworthy that one of South Africa’s key global competitors, Australia, has scrapped plans to introduce such a scheme.

Those in support of the tax say it could play a role in achieving the transition to a low-carbon economy and in meeting SA’s global commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Apart from consultants in the sector, those in the carbon trading environment may like to see a carbon tax is. However, with the bulk of the carbon emitted coming from only two entities, Eskom and Sasol, it may limit carbon trading opportunities; thus the boost it may provide to that particular market may not be as large as expected.

“If this is tax is about greenhouse gases, then Government needs only to effect a behaviour change through government policy,” continues Nel. “They have the IRP (Integrated Rescue Plan), which prescribes the generation technologies for electricity. A CO2 Tax on ESKOM will merely be passed onto consumers without providing alternative choices”
Econometrix has calculated the harsh economic impact of these effects. The carbon tax would slow gross domestic product (GDP) growth by 0.4 percent a year, resulting in a 6.5 percent reduction in the size of GDP by 2030, or R350bn, and a reduction of almost 1.4 million in the number of jobs available.

Finally, carbon tax and higher prices of the large input cost increases due to high electricity prices are contrary to the country’s own beneficiation policies, and some companies are now relocating elsewhere because of the non-competitive electricity costs in this country.

About BDO South Africa:
BDO in South Africa is the South African member firm of BDO International. BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO member firms. The global BDO network provides audit, tax and advisory services in 152 countries, with over 59,000 people working out of 1,300 offices worldwide. Service provision within the international BDO network of independent member firms (‘the BDO network’) is coordinated by Brussels Worldwide Services BVBA, a limited liability company incorporated in Belgium with its statutory seat in Brussels.

Issued by:

Beverley Bradley
Ogilvy Public Relations
beverley.bradley@ogilvypr.co.za
072 272 5166

On behalf of:
BDO South Africa
Genea Frade
Communications Manager
gfrade@bdo.co.za082 538 1962