WWF is delighted that President Ramaphosa has finally signed the Climate Change Act into law, and would like to congratulate our lawmakers on completing this long process. This critical piece of legislation is the scaffolding upon which the nation’s approach to climate action will be built going forward.

WWF South Africa welcomes the signing of the Climate Change Act

By providing for the mainstreaming of climate targets across government line ministries, the Act helps to embed the principles and aspirations of the nation’s commitments under the global Paris Agreement into national implementation.

James Reeler, WWF’s Senior Manager for Climate Action, says: “After nearly 10 years of engagement, and 7 years after the first draft Bill was published, it is heartening to see this Act finally passed.”

Reeler says over this same period South Africa has emitted over 4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. He says the evidence of climate change impacts on people’s lives and livelihoods and has become increasingly apparent. He added, that the importance of this framework law in guiding the response to this crisis cannot be overstated.

Emitted over 4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide

Regulations governing carbon budgets for high-emitting companies still need to be finalised, and the sectoral emission targets that guide relevant line ministries are still in process.

However, the law formalises the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) as the key advisory body guiding the government in mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

Louise Naudé, WWF’s Senior Climate Change Engagement Specialist and Commissioner on the PCC, says: “The act formalises the PCC as a Schedule 3 entity, with a strong role as advisory to government”.

She says all the signals are there that the effective cordial and independent relations they’ve built with the presidency, key ministries and the government as a whole, will persist.

The law formalises the Presidential Climate Commission

WWF looks forward to being part of South Africa’s transition to a clean, equitable, climate-resilient future and protecting the natural systems that underpin human wellbeing.

“While the hard work still has to be done, the Climate Change Act provides a key legal framework for the country – and all our citizens – to steer away from the damaging and inequitable future that was otherwise locked in, and realise a vision for sustainable development,” says Reeler.

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The Climate Change Act also requires national, provincial and municipal governments to consider the implications of climate change on their operations and plan accordingly.