South Africa Signed the Climate Change Act for Effective Climate Change Response

Addressing climate change is our collective responsibility. This is why countries, especially those who signed the Paris Agreement, are responsible for managing their greenhouse gas emissions. In line with this, South Africa signed into law the Climate Change Act in July 2024 to encourage an effective climate change response.

South Africa’s Climate Change Act

The Climate Change Bill was first introduced by South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment in February 2022. After two years of legislative process, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed it into law in July 2024.

The overall aim of the Climate Change Act is to develop an effective climate change response in South Africa, including striving for a long-term and just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society. The Act plans to strengthen coordination between national sector departments to provide an integrated response and manage climate change impacts.

Under the Act, the Government of South Africa must develop and publish a National Adaptation Strategy and Plan within two years of the passage of the Climate Change Act. The purpose of the Plan is to reduce vulnerability related to climate change, strengthen resilience, and enhance the adaptive capacity of society, the economy, and the environment.

Within a year of the Plan’s publication, province, metropolitan, and municipal governments must assess their regions and provide necessary inputs to the Plan according to each region’s climate conditions.

Striking A Balance

In 2021, South Africa’s total CO2 emissions reached 391.746 Mt CO2, contributing to 1.2% of the global CO2 emissions. That year, China, the United States, the EU27, India, Russia, and Japan combined accounted for 67.8% of global fossil CO2 emissions.

However, while South Africa’s emissions were significantly smaller than those countries, data from the International Energy Agency stated that the country’s CO2 emissions grew by 40% between 2000 and 2021. Fossil fuels comprised the vast majority of CO2 emissions in the energy sector, with coal contributing to 83% of total CO2 emissions from fuel combustion.

At the same time, South Africa’s economy still mostly hinges on coal usage. According to Climate Transparency, the coal mining sector employs over 90,000 workers, which can pose challenges in the energy transition process to reduce emissions. Meanwhile, the impacts of climate change are felt across multiple sectors in the country, from agriculture and food production to human health and disaster management. This contrast highlights the need for the Climate Change Act to strike a balance between reducing emissions and supporting the welfare and wellbeing of people and the planet.

“In addition to the legislated management of climate change adaptation and mitigation, the Climate Change Act imposes duties across organs of state affected by climate change to harmonize policies, laws, programs, and decisions with the principles and objects of the Act,” said Makoma Lekalakala, Earthlife Africa Director.

When enacted, the Act is also hoped to enable South Africa to meet the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Kresentia Madina

Reporter at Green Network Asia | Website | + posts

Madina is the Assistant Manager of Stakeholder Engagement at Green Network Asia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Studies from Universitas Indonesia. As part of the GNA In-House Team, she supports the organization's multi-stakeholder engagement across international organizations, governments, businesses, civil society, and grassroots communities through digital publications, events, capacity building, and research.