SA climate targets: Are we responsive to the economic imperatives and constitutional rights?

WE ARE heating the planet at unnatural rates by emitting excess greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This arises from burning fossil fuels to make electricity, transport people and goods, and other energy needs. Other significant emissions come from food production, waste generation, and the destruction of ecosystems, all of which store carbon in their stable states.

- BRANDON ABDINOR

Thankfully, these days there is a dwindling number of voices denying the existence of human caused global warming, or on the urgent need to transition to a low carbon economy and society. The big questions and debates now centre around the Who, How and When of taking decisive action.

One such set of debates is happening right now, as South Africa readies itself to update its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The obligation to submit an NDC arises from the Paris Agreement which South Africa became a party to in 2015, along with around 195 other nations and blocs. The global climate treaty compels parties to submit climate action plans which include targets for emissions reductions. Each party decides what its target will be, but to be fully legitimate it must quantify reductions towards the attainment of the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming of 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is responsible for formulating the NDC, a draft of which is subject to public participation and the final version of which must be approved by the Cabinet. Such a draft was released at the end of July, including targets for the reduction of GHG emissions. The draft targets elicited support from some quarters, and concern and even condemnation from others.