Ramaphosa passes Climate Change Bill

By Sinenhlanhla Mncwango | 24 July 2024 | 12:49 pm

In a significant move aimed at bolstering South Africa’s response to climate change, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday signed the Climate Change Bill into law.

This legislative milestone, which received widespread support, shows an important move to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience across various sectors, including agriculture.

The Climate Change Bill, led by then minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Barbara Creecy, sets out a comprehensive national framework for climate action.

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She emphasised the importance of this legislation in regulating activities contributing to climate change and ensuring a coordinated response across all levels of government and society.

The Bill would provide the much-needed legal framework to regulate activities that contributed to climate change, she explained in a press statement.

It would also “ensure an effective response in all spheres of government and by society at large, ensure a just transition, and maximise the opportunities afforded to our economy by the global shift to a green economy”.

The Climate Change Act is seen as a critical tool to align policies and decisions with South Africa’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate impacts.

It establishes the Presidential Climate Commission to advice on climate response strategies, facilitating a just transition to a low-carbon economy.

A step in the right direction

Prof Harald Winkler of the University of Cape Town’s School of Economics, hailed the Act as a pivotal step forward.

“President Ramaphosa’s signing of the Climate Change Act marks a crucial step forward. Now, we must ensure its swift and effective implementation across all sectors.”

He said it would introduce mandatory carbon budgets for large companies that were aiming for significant emissions reductions, adding that it emphasised transparency through annual reporting, ensuring accountability in climate efforts.

According to Winkler, local communities, particularly vulnerable to climate impacts, would benefit from enhanced adaptation and resilience measures at provincial and municipal levels.

“Loss and damage from climate change are immediate challenges for poor communities. South Africa must invest in infrastructure and preparedness to provide finance at scale when these events occur.”

Winkler explained that the Act provided a tool for all South Africans to engage actively in climate action.

Impact on farmers

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen welcomed the legislation, stressing its role in coordinating responses to climate impacts on farmers.

“Climate change is an issue that has an impact on agriculture and we are already seeing the effects of this on agriculture economies across the globe,” he said.

“Climate change has particularly hit smaller and subsistence farmers the hardest as they are unable to mitigate against the effects of climate change.”

Steenhuisen explained that the Climate Change Act would enable a more coordinated approach to planning and mitigating these effects, crucially focusing on building resilience in the sector.

The agricultural community in South Africa has already borne the brunt of climate change through erratic weather patterns, water scarcity and increased pest and disease pressures. The new law aims to support farmers in adapting to these challenges while fostering sustainable agricultural practices.