South Africa's government says it will move away from coal and promote use of wind and nuclear energy in an effort to fight global warming.
Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told a news conference Monday that options being considered include mandatory energy efficiency targets and a possible tax on carbon dioxide emissions.
South Africa generates most of its electricity using coal, a major source of the so-called greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.
Van Schalkwyk said no new coal-fired power stations would be approved unless they use technology that captures and stores carbon emissions.
He said if action is taken now, South Africa's greenhouse gas emissions should stabilize by 2025 and then begin to decline.
He said the Cabinet's decisions show the government and the country are committed to a "low carbon economy."
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
