South African businesses came under increasing pressure to treat sustainability as a business imperative last year. It was prompted by a mix of fiscal interventions, tighter pollution laws and inspections, higher energy prices, a new corporate governance code and a global focus on climate change. In the last budget delivered by former finance minister Trevor Manuel in February, environmental taxes were either introduced or increased. he measures were expected to bring additional green revenue of about R7.8 billion to the fiscus in the year.

Most of it would come from higher taxes on fuel via the general fuel levy and a surcharge on non-renewable forms of electricity, implemented in July at 2c a kilowatt-hour and regarded as the country's first tax designed to incentivise the switch away from coal and diesel for power generation. Smaller amounts would be generated from increasing international air departure taxes, a new tax on incandescent light bulbs and higher taxes on plastic bags. And it was announced that import duties on vehicles would take into account carbon emissions this year.

Many companies started feeling the wrath of the law as environmental inspectors under the Green Scorpions continued a programme to check compliance with pollution legislation - the first time in decades that business is being held to its legal obligations. more [Business Report]