Creating a low-carbon future for all South Africans

On 3 July 2018, Project 90 by 2030 attended one of a series of Provincial Stakeholder Engagement Workshop at which all stakeholders and interested parties were able to comment on the National Climate Change Bill. 

We attended meetings where other stakeholders present included the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), local and provincial government bodies, civil society organisations, academics, and the private sector.  In essence, the bill seeks to establish the following:
  • A set of definitions, acronyms, expectations and climate action language
  • An explanation of new institutional changes around renewable energy
  • Adaptation to impacts of climate change
  • Framework to phase out greenhouse gas emissions

The nationwide workshops were hosted by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Western Cape Provincial Government and attended by the Minister, Dr. Edna Molewa.  In her opening statement, Dr Molewa stated that South Africa was a signatory to the Paris Agreement to Combat Climate Change, an acknowledgement that this was a problem requiring a global effort.

“South Africa continues to play an active role on the international stage through participation in a number of key multilateral environmental agreements and their associated negotiations,” she said.  “In addition to finalising our National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, we have developed a draft Climate Change Bill to provide effective national response for both mitigation and adaptation action.”

Project 90 by 2030’s mandate is to strengthen cooperation with other civil society organisations (CSOs) and to hold policy makers to account for their decisions when it comes to South Africa’s energy system and the country’s mitigation and adaptation commitments. 

Some of the criticisms of the bill during the workshops were that it seemed intentionally vague around figures and sums – raising concerns about how climate action is being prioritised by government.  It also lacked a trajectory for effective implementation.  Experts from environmental institutes and organisations questioned why the act is not being pegged at the “right political level” and said the bill was toothless in forcing the private and political sectors to adhere to its policies. “The general problem with the bill is the issue with funding. The only funding talked about is a penalty for non-compliance; we need financial support and resources to comply with measures that we are being asked to take. 

DEA chief director for climate change mitigation Deborah Ramalope said many challenges to governance had arisen by responding to climate change.  She said South Africa had committed to a just transition to an environmentally sustainable economy, and the proposes and responses mentioned would be taken into consideration when the bill was amended after the public participation process concludes.  The department clarified that the bill was raised to establish a proper foundation for climate action – rather than immediate direct change.  

Project 90 by 2030 is actively creating spaces and opportunities for discussions – both actual and virtual – allowing civil society and other stakeholders to come together with the aim of working towards a just energy transition and bringing about transparent and ambitious climate action.  We ensured that our youth leadership initiative was not left out of the opportunity for learning that this platform created for ordinary citizens in this country.  We arranged for a few of our YouLead Warriors to attend the national workshops, so that they too could participate in creating an energy policy for South Africa that is ultimately better for our people, and better for the planet.