Only the tiniest fraction of South African real estate is carbon neutral. On the current trajectory, it will take a century or more to decarbonise them.
It is estimated that 80% of buildings that must be carbon neutral by 2050 have already been built, which means that now is not only the time to start constructing new buildings better, but now is also the time to start retrofitting older structures with solar panels and green hydrogen storage and stationary fuel cell electricity generation facilities.
In addition, tree planting must be made obligatory and consideration must start to be given to all other ways of going green. A holistic decarbonisation approach, which also enhances social equality and embedded circularity, will ensure that funding can be obtained at attractive interest rates.