Forestry, fisheries and the environment minister Dion George has approved the release of draft national greenhouse gas carbon budget and mitigation plan regulations for public comment, a move the government says will strengthen SA’s climate change response.
“This significant step follows a comprehensive and inclusive consultation process, aligning with SA’s commitments under the Climate Change Act [of] 2024,” the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment said in a statement.
The draft regulations, accompanied by the list of greenhouse gases and activities and associated technical guidelines, aim to support the implementation of sections 26 and 27 of the act.
“These sections empower the minister to establish a list of greenhouse gases and activities contributing to climate change, allocate carbon budgets to significant emitters, and mandate the submission of greenhouse gas mitigation plans,” said the statement.
The regulations are intended to help the country meet its targets under the Paris Agreement and the UN framework convention on climate change.
According to the department, this move follows a robust stakeholder engagement process, including workshops and consultations with various stakeholders ranging from civil society, labour, business, academia, including climate change mitigation and transparency practitioners.
The draft regulations and technical guidelines were further refined through intergovernmental processes.
“These draft regulations mark a critical step in SA’s journey towards a sustainable, low-carbon future,” George said.
“By setting clear carbon budgets and mitigation plans, we are ensuring that our nation meets its climate commitments while fostering economic growth and social equity,” the minister said.
“I encourage all stakeholders to engage with the public comment process to shape these vital regulations.”
The t guidelines aim to help implement SA’s nationally determined contributions, which commit the country to limiting annual emissions to between 350-million and 420-million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030.
These will be made available for public comment in early August.
According to the statement, letters were sent to cabinet members, members of the executive council, the chair of the SA Local Government Association, and chair of the Presidential Climate Commission.
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