SA organisations studying emission targets for carbon dioxide

A landmark step has been made with the new climate change bill

- Glenneis Kriel

The National Council of Provinces recently approved the Climate Change Bill, which means the bill now only needs to be signed off by President Cyril Ramaphosa to be enacted.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Barbara Creecy said in a press statement that the bill aimed to enable the development of an effective climate change response and a longterm, just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society.

“The approval of the Climate Change Bill is a landmark in our response to climate change. It will integrate components we have outlined in the National Climate Change White Paper into a robust legal framework and maintain climate action across all spheres of government,” Creecy said.

The bill provides for the establishment of adaptation objectives to guide the adaptation response, which is to be accompanied by indicators for measuring progress.

It also requires the adoption of a National Adaptation Strategy and Plan, and for certain ministers, including the minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development, to develop and implement a sector adaptation strategy and plan within a year of the publication of the Adaptation Plan and Strategy.