State of climate action in South Africa: heavy on policy, light on action
The State of Climate Action in South Africa report highlights the country may be policy-rich but is decidedly poor on follow-through action.
Commissioned by the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), the report documents the notable impact of climate change across South African society at large and makes several propositions for better coordination of action across government.
Presidential Climate Commission deputy chair Valli Moosa calls the report a “clarion call” for climate action, unequivocal in its finding that “South Africa has strong commitments to addressing climate change, but needs to accelerate implementation efforts, particularly in areas of governance, financing and market reform.
“The report clearly highlights areas where step changes are required, which we advise the new administration to implement with urgency.
“This report calls for measures to be put in place to reduce emissions and improve resilience, highlighting and prioritising four sectors, water, agriculture, energy and transport…” Moosa writes in his report foreword.
State of Climate Action in South Africa
The key finding from the report is that “although South Africa has strong commitments and public support for tackling climate change and facilitating a just transition, progress is not happening at the pace and scale required to tackle a crisis of such proportion.”
Key barriers hindering progress include
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The report finds that the three main drivers for the mismatch between commitments and action are:
Report coincides with introduction of Climate Change Act
Speaking at the launch of the report, Nomfundo Tshabalala, Director-General of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, noted that it coincides with the signing into law of the Climate Change Bill.
The Climate Change Act sets out the country’s national climate change response which includes mitigation and adaptation actions, as well as constitutes the country’s fair contribution to the global climate change response.
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The Act is also supposed to enable the alignment of policies that influence South Africa’s climate change response to ensure the country’s transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, and society is not constrained by policy contradictions.
As Tshabalala explained, the State of Climate Action in South Africa report points to “fragmentation of strategic and technical responsibility and calls for a more coherent and integrated response.”
“We are well aware that climate change has the potential to reverse the developmental gains achieved thus far in the country, as such collaboration and strategic partnerships with the civil society, academia, business, labour in responding to climate change.
“South Africa needs access to scaled-up, new, additional and predictable, fit-for-purpose finance, specifically grant and concessional finance that can be deployed effectively to create enabling environments for rapid investments by buying down risks and create new asset classes for clean investments that would allow for more significant mobilisation and leveraging of public and private finance,” said Tshabalala.
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Where does this report fit into all other climate action reports?
The State of Climate Action in South Africa report will contribute to the country’s reporting process to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) as the country develops its Biennial Transparency Report (BRT).
This BRT will be submitted to the UNFCCC by the end of 2024, in line with the Paris Agreement rulebook.
The DFFE has also published the Sector Emissions Targets (SETs) for public comment. The SETs are the main instrument to implement the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), informed by sectoral Policies and Measures.
“South Africa has a sophisticated greenhouse gas emissions monitoring system that has helped to shape the form of the Carbon Tax system that we have today.
“Work is underway to ensure that our national emissions monitoring system also incorporates the tracking of carbon budgets and mitigation plans to be allocated to industry as per the Climate Change Act,” said Tshabalala.
FAQs about the State of Climate Action in South Africa
What is the State of Climate Action in South Africa report?
The PCC’s first assessment of climate action in South Africa is a snapshot of the country’s progress towards reducing emissions, enhancing climate resilience, and improving lives and livelihoods of all, especially those impacted in the climate transition.
What are South Africa’s climate actions?
The South African Cabinet has approved key climate actions including creating a Presidential Climate Commission, South Africa’s Low Emissions Development Strategy, a National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, A Carbon Tax, and a Just Transition Framework.
What is the Presidential Climate Commission?
The PCC is a?multi-stakeholder body established by the President of the Republic of South Africa. It advises on the country’s climate change response and pathways to a low-carbon climate-resilient economy and society.
What is the Climate Change Act?
This Act enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa’s climate change response. It also means ensuring the country’s transition to a?low-carbon?and climate-resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions.