Climate Change Act, 2024
| Climate Change Act, 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Parliament of South Africa | |
| |
| Citation | Act 22 of 2024 |
| Enacted by | B9B—2022 |
| Assented to | 18 July 2024 |
| Commenced | 28 February 2025 |
| Introduced by | Barbara Creecy |
| Status: In force | |
The Climate Change Act, 2024 is an act of the Parliament of South Africa adopting policies relating to climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. The act places duties on the national government, the provincial governments and municipalities.[1]
Provisions
The act contains a commitments to the goal of "decent work" and defines a just transition as the following.[2]
a shift towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy and society and ecologically sustainable economies and societies which contribute toward the creation of decent work for all, social inclusion, and the eradication of poverty.
— Climate Change Act, 2024, Chapter 1
The act formally sets out the functions of the Presidential Climate Commission.[3]
Mitigation
The act sets emissions caps for sectors large greenhouse gas emissions.[4]
Adaptation
The act requires every municipality to publish adaptation plans.[4]
Implementation
In implementing the legislation, certain provisions were excluded from the initial proclamation.[1]
Reception
The Energy Council of South Africa supported the legislation, describing it as a "critical piece of legislation".[5]
The act was welcomed by the Presidential Climate Commission and the World Wide Fund for Nature.[6]
References
- ^ a b Engel, Kristin (18 March 2025). "'Doesn't have teeth' — experts voice concern about deferral of 'key' clauses in Climate Change Act". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 18 March 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Collier, Debbie (28 January 2025). "A hot and troubled world of work: how South Africa's bold new climate act and labour law can align to drive a just transition". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 6 February 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Thorne, Seth (23 July 2024). "Ramaphosa signs 3 new laws for South Africa". Business Tech. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ a b Peyton, Nellie (23 July 2024). "South Africa passes its first sweeping climate change law". Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Bulbulia, Tasneem (2 May 2024). "Energy Council welcomes passing of Climate Change Bill". Engineering News. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Bulbulia, Tasneem (23 July 2024). "PCC, WWF welcome signing into law of Climate Change Bill". Engineering News. Creamer Media. Archived from the original on 5 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.