South Africa’s new law on Climate Change

Context

• As one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases in the top fifteen countries today, South Africa utilizes especially coal. 
• It has for instance suffered disastrous affects of natural conditions such as droughts floods and heat bolls. 
• The two global frameworks; namely, the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC have encouraged nations to act on climate change. 

 About

• The Climate Change Act is an act of parliament or a new law passed recently under the leadership of president Cyril Ramaphosa to combat climate change. 
• It seeks to regulate the emission of greenhouse gases as well as respond to the consequences of climate change. 

Description

• Mandatory Emissions Curbs: Pollutants are restricted by law with a greater degree of prescribed stringency for large industries that rely heavily on fossils. 
• Climate-Adaptation Plans:Each town and city has to prepare and publish an adaptation plan, which brings a national climate change response. 
• Emissions Targets:You would set an emissions target for each over-emitting government sector, and each minister of the sector has to implement measures for emissions reductions. 
• Carbon Budget:The environment minister is also requires to assign a carbon budget to any organization emitting excessive greenhouse gas where a limit on emissions must be assigned for a specific period. 

Significance

• The law proves that South Africa is ready and willing to join the international community in combating climate change. 
• This makes a good example to emulate for other developing nations that I have not mentioned above. 
• The law has the potential of lowering greenhouse gases emission and climate change impacts in South Africa. 

Pros

• Fights the constant release of the greenhouse gases and consequently, the climate change impacts. 
• Supports initiatives on the protection of environment, as well as transition to the green economy. 
• Contributes to the development of South Africa’s foreign policy, with a view to nurturing its image of a responsible global citizen. 

Cons

• Chicago may cause higher expenses to industries as well as the customers. 
• May result to unemployment especially in the enterprises processes that rely on the fossil fuel especially the industrial processes. 
• Is said to call for huge resource and capacity commitments for it to be implemented. 

Challenges

• Stating the facts and receiving the reductions in emissions. 
• The mixed economy argument of Gendall seeking to have enhanced economic gain and at the same time curb the effects attributed to climate change. 
• In relation to the possible social and economical impacts on vulnerable groups. 

Conclusion/Way Forward

• The Climate Change Act is thus another step towards sustainability in the republic of South Africa. 
• This is also the case since the formulation of basic education policies involves cooperation, support, and the development of human and material assets. 
• However on the positive side the law can be useful for not only the South African country but for the whole world permitting the transition towards a low-carbon economy.

Source: The Hindu