Carbon taxes on petrol and diesel will be introduced on 5 June, 2019 and form part of Government’s efforts to deal with climate change.

The taxes (9c/l for petrol and 10c/l for diesel) are based on the "polluter pays" principle and are intended to allow South Africa to meet its 2015 Paris Agreement commitments.

This initiative, however, has faced criticism from several quarters, with suggestions that the taxes will push up transport costs and consumer prices, as well as hamper an already struggling economy. Others have referred to them as “too little too late”.

Wits Business School’s African Energy Leadership Centre (AELC) has invited four expert panellists to share their views on this development. They are:

• Dr Bob Scholes, Wits Systems Ecologist, Global Change Institute
• Memory Machingambi, National Treasury
• Kevin Baart, Head: Strategic Projects at SA Petroleum Industry Association
• Cargo Carriers, Tba

Professor Rod Crompton, Head of the AELC, will facilitate the discussion.

Booking is essential.