The Bill which sets out a national response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, constitutes South Africa’s fair contribution to the global climate change response.
It will be welcomed after the country has for years lacked a regulatory mechanism requiring government departments to work cooperatively to address climate change – despite being a signatory to the Paris Agreement.
South Africa is one of more than 190 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change who are parties to the eight-year-old Paris Agreement
SA Climate change response
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the Climate Change Act endorsed by Ramaphosa enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa’s response to ensure the country’s transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions.
“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.
“The act has the aim of strengthening co-ordination between national sector departments and provide policy setting and decision-making to enable South Africa to meet the commitments in Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement,” Magwenya said.