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Aug 17, 2022  ·  by E-SUPPLY | Your Clean Energy Store  ·  Clean Energy, Climate, SDG 13 – Climate Action  ·  Comments

South Africa's greenhouse gas emittance: World Ranking

12th largest emitter

The term “climate change” is often heard in a conversation and you may wondered what it was all about. Well, we are here to break it down for you in simpler terms and answer common questions.

According to the United Nations, climate change refers to: 

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

 —  United Nations  — 

The effects of climate change are apparent in the changes communities are experiencing, concerns such as rising sea levels have resulted in advancements in salt water intrusions which have an impact of displacing entire communities forcing them to relocate to healthier, habitable areas increasing the number of  “climate refugees”. 

Climate Change Impact

Some of the more obvious climate changes might be noticeable to most of us. A prominent one is global warming. Have you ever noticed that as of late there has been increasing heat waves or maybe you have noticed that we are experiencing longer warm seasons and shorter cold seasons?

Well you are not imaging things! Our climate is changing, we all feel it and we aren't alone. Our governments worldwide are putting measures in place to help reduce the impacts and create positive change to our environment and lives. Let's find out what South Africa is doing about it.

South Africa's response to climate change

The year of 2022 has seen major movement in relation to climate change initiatives introduced by the South African government. In February 2022, the South African government took the next step in the commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals and tabled the Climate Change Bill in parliament which aims to:

“Enable the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term, just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society for South Africa in the context of sustainable development; and to provide for matters connected therewith”.

—  Parliament of the Republic of South Africa —

In addition to this, on the 19th July 2022, the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg and the C40 Vice Chair for Africa, Mpho Phalatse hosted the launch of the Climate Action Implementation (CAI) Programme in Africa. This programme aims to encourage African cities to work collectively to implement priority climate actions in order to ensure that Africa’s cities are sustainable and resilient. The current programme will support seven African cities hosting almost 54 million residents in implementing climate action plans (CAPs) aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting greener, carbon neutral cities by the year 2050. The current participating cities are; Accra (Ghana), Lagos (Nigeria) , Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Nairobi (Kenya), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Johannesburg, and Tshwane (South Africa). 

What is a Bill?

To put it in the simplest terms a Bill is a draft version of a proposed law that is presented in local parliament for discussion.

The purpose of South Africa's Climate Change Bill

South Africa’s Climate Change bill intends to empower South Africa to adequately and safely respond to climate changes including the risks and impact that it has on the environment and the people. By introducing legislature regulating climate related matters, South Africa takes on the responsibility of managing the threat to the peoples constitutional rights that climate change poses. It does this by having laws that hold emitters accountable for their environmental impact and as such regulates and aims to prevent further harmful activities  on the environment and considers future generations.

How does this benefit the country?

Besides the main benefit of preventing further harmful activities from affecting our environment and its inhabitants, having a climate change Bill demonstrates that as a country, South Africa is serious about climate change. This helps improve its ability to access climate finance, which will greatly assist in the implementation of the necessary measures to ensure that change is affected and the carbon neutral targets are met in line with its vision to become a greener, sustainable, prosperous low carbon economy.

Components of an effective and efficient Bill

To be effective and efficient the bill needs to cover for the following areas:

  • Enforcement of the laws including penalties for any companies that exceed their  carbon emissions allowances.
  • The bill must include timeframes and deadlines for any plans to be implemented in order to meet its target.
  • Accelerate efforts to secure a green and just recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Promote transparency relating to details of what the carbon budgets are, who the emitters are, how much they are emitting and updates on their progress with regards to those agreed targets. 
  • The bill must also indicate strong emission reduction targets that are based on science and that aim to ensure that South Africa stays within 1.5°C of global warming.

Impact that residents can have on the Bill

As a resident who is impacted by the changes in the climate you definitely can have an impact on the final law that is passed. Here’s some of the ways you can participate in the conversation and make an impact. 

  • Learn about climate change and join in on discussions including participating in public participation sessions.
  • Speak to your local political leaders, ask them if they know about the Bill and what they can do to address your concerns.
  • Engage your local community leaders and share your concerns.
  • Share and engage with other community members in person or online (Social media) – open up the conversation.
  • Join social advocacy groups who are spearheading the campaign to a carbon neutral safe climate.
  • Choose alternative energy access by using clean energy products, as such you will become a prosumer who is contributing to a more sustainable, clean and carbon low climate. Explore options here.

Learn more about climate change in Africa

If you have some time and would like to go a little deeper into climate change and its impacts in Africa, please watch this video below by African Climate Alliance.

Find a copy of the BILL below

As E-SUPPLY, we want you to have access to all the information you need in order to live a more sustainable and clean lifestyle. So worry not, below you can download some relevant documents that can help get you started.

DOWNLOAD : CLIMATE CHANGE BILL – FUN FACT SHEET.

DOWNLOAD : CLIMATE CHANGE BILL (B9-2022).

 
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