As China’s development puts increasing pressure on the environment, various measures have been implemented both domestically and, increasingly, abroad in an attempt to limit the impact. China’s environmental engagement at an international level, including the agreement between the United States (US) President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping to cut carbon emissions (12 November 2014), signals the growing urgency of the issue.

Within the context of the China-South Africa engagement, there are also signs of this shift. Two key areas where this is evident are in China’s growing role in conservation and the renewable energy sector. China’s domestic demand for wildlife goods has motivated the Chinese government to sign a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with African governments. In the renewable energy sector again, Africa’s energy needs and untapped capacity for electricity generation from renewable energy (RE) has created a vast potential market for global Chinese renewable energy firms. Both areas have become increasingly important topics within China-Africa relations, and feature on the Forum of China Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) agenda.

This policy brief examines the role of these two themes as a way of demonstrating some of the concrete ways in which China-Africa interaction is evolving in a world where sustainable development has become key.

Recommendation:

co-operation between South Africa and China illustrates that agreements made need to be specific to the issue of concern. The second MoU in 2013 was particularly aimed at curbing the scourge of rhino poaching through co-operation in law enforcement, compliance with international conventions and other relevant legislation. Since the agreement, the Chinese government have been more co-operative. Thus, more African governments affected by the poaching crisis need to enter into detailed agreements on environmental conservation and illegal wildlife trade in order for effective regulation and law enforcement

FOCAC should be used as a platform to address the problem where African governments, especially South Africa, can set the agenda regarding illegal wildlife trade and put hard pressure on their Chinese counterparts by bringing poachers to book

South Africa is a lucrative market for Chinese RE companies, but the local RE industry requires more skills and technical (technological) knowledge if it is to truly become sustainable on the long-term. More should be done on a bi-lateral basis to formalise the transfer of skills and technical knowledge between South African and Chinese actors in the RE sector. Technology transfer should be more clearly articulated in any new FOCAC agreements as a priority in China-Africa co-operation

the South African RE case has shown that a combination of laws and the provision of market security can stimulate economic investment in which African economies can themselves move up the value chain. South Africa with its relatively strong administrative capacity should provide assistance to fellow African states to follow suit