Climate change and South Africa's dependence on coal for over 90 percent of its energy needs came under the spotlight in the National Assembly on Thursday.

Such dependence made the country "one of the biggest carbon polluters in the world", Democratic Alliance environment spokesman Gareth Morgan said during a joint debate on the tourism and environmental affairs budget votes.

"Our abundance of this resource may seem like a blessing, but it's not"

"We cannot respond to climate change without having an honest debate about coal. Our abundance of this resource may seem like a blessing, but it's not," he told MPs.

The fact that coal was cheap and abundant - South Africa has reserves of 200 years, based on current production rates - meant the country would rely on coal, a dirty source of energy, for a long time to come.

"According to Eskom expansion plans, they're going to increase our reliance on the resource.

"Where our so-called blessing of abundant coal becomes a curse, is that it crowds out a real commitment to diversifying energy production. It crowds out the debate we so need to have."

Morgan called on Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica to not be afraid to "keep coal in the hole".

He further called on her to establish, in terms of current environmental legislation, a national forum on mining and the environment.

"Open a structured dialogue on this matter with all the relevant stakeholders. Let us find a way to manage mining in a way that does not make us pay for its effects for generations to come.

"It is time that this debate on the effects of mining on the environment, and also how coal mining traps us into a particular energy future, is brought to the table," Morgan said.

Electricity supplier Eskom pumps hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year from its 10 coal-fired power stations. More are being brought on line.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, one considered by scientists to be the major cause of climate change and global warming.

Speaking during Thursday's debate, Sonjica said there was a great need in South Africa to "demystify" the climate change debate.

"It is with this in mind that we declared this month Environment Month, with out celebrations guided by the theme 'SA Act Now! Combat Climate Change'," she said.

Sapa

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