Providing an innovative and strategic approach to climate policy, this reference confronts the critical issues surrounding a sustainable future for South Africa, a growing country that is attempting to balance increasing energy demands with protecting the environment. Utilizing local-development objectives as its starting point, this overview offers a nuanced examination of where the synergies and trade-offs lie, clarifying the imperative of considering long-term implications when meeting short-term needs. Through a detailed discussion of energy modeling, sustainable-development indicators, and policy analysis, this survey builds a detailed case study to illustrate the benefits of a development-focused approach to energy and climate policy.