On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa signed the Climate Change Bill into law, marking a significant milestone in the country’s environmental policy.
The newly enacted Climate Change Act outlines South Africa’s national response to climate change, encompassing both mitigation and adaptation strategies.
The Act aims to align various policies influencing South Africa’s climate change response, ensuring a cohesive approach as the country transitions to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. It emphasizes the importance of balancing this transition with job preservation and the creation of new opportunities in the emerging green economy.
“The Climate Change Act, as endorsed by the President, enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa’s climate change response, to ensure that South Africa’s transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions.” official statement said.
“The law also sets out to enhance South Africa’s ability and capacity over time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses, and promoting opportunities for new job opportunities in the emerging green economy.”
A key feature of the new law is its focus on enhancing South Africa’s capacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over time. It also aims to strengthen coordination between national sector departments and provide a framework for policy-setting and decision-making to meet the country’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
South Africa, as one of more than 190 signatories to the Paris Agreement, has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The Climate Change Act is expected to play a crucial role in achieving these commitments.
The law acknowledges the wide-ranging impacts of climate change on various sectors, including water resources, agriculture, food production, forestry, fisheries, human health, energy generation, industry, human settlements, and biodiversity.
It recognizes that these impacts will disproportionately affect poor communities and vulnerable groups, potentially hindering South Africa’s development and economic growth goals.
Notably, the Act formalizes the functions of the Presidential Climate Commission, which will provide advice on the country’s climate change response. This includes guidance on achieving an effective climate change strategy and ensuring a long-term just transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy and society.
The legislation also clearly defines the roles that provinces and municipalities will play in mitigation efforts, emphasizing a multi-level governance approach to addressing climate change.
The enactment of this law comes at a critical time, as South Africa faces increasing pressure to transition away from its heavy reliance on coal for electricity generation.
The country’s energy sector is responsible for a significant portion of its greenhouse gas emissions.
