IN CONVERSATION WITH JONGIKHAYA WITI ( the Chief Director for Climate Change Monitoring)
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In a significant step towards strengthening South Africa’s climate change response, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has approved the publication of the draft National Greenhouse Gas Carbon Budget and Mitigation Plan Regulations for public comment.
This development is accompanied by the declaration of the List of Greenhouse Gases and Activities, as well as associated Technical Guidelines. Together, these measures align with the recently enacted Climate Change Act, 2024 (Act No. 22 of 2024) and reaffirm South Africa’s international climate commitments, including those under the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The draft Regulations were developed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) following extensive consultations with stakeholders including civil society, labour, business, academia, and technical experts. Further input was incorporated through inter-governmental collaboration to ensure broad consensus and transparency.
The Regulations aim to implement key provisions of sections 26 and 27 of the Climate Change Act, empowering the Minister to:
Establish a formal list of greenhouse gases and high-emission activities;
Allocate carbon budgets to major emitters; and
Require the submission of greenhouse gas mitigation plans.
These steps are central to guiding South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy, while also promoting economic development and social inclusion.
Minister George highlighted the importance of this milestone:
“These draft Regulations represent a critical advancement in our journey toward a sustainable, low-carbon future. By defining carbon budgets and outlining clear mitigation responsibilities, we are building a framework that helps meet our national and global climate obligations while driving inclusive economic progress. I urge all stakeholders to actively engage in the upcoming public comment process.”
The draft Regulations and Technical Guidelines will be formally published for comment in early August 2025. Notifications will appear in at least one national newspaper and the Government Gazette, and formal letters have already been sent to Cabinet members, MECs, the South African Local Government Association, and the Presidential Climate Commission—ensuring alignment with sections 31 and 32 of the Climate Change Act.
The Technical Guidelines are designed to enhance transparency and support South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which aim to limit greenhouse gas emissions to between 350 and 420 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030.
The DFFE encourages all interested parties to participate in the public comment process and help shape South Africa’s climate governance framework for a sustainable future.
This development is accompanied by the declaration of the List of Greenhouse Gases and Activities, as well as associated Technical Guidelines. Together, these measures align with the recently enacted Climate Change Act, 2024 (Act No. 22 of 2024) and reaffirm South Africa’s international climate commitments, including those under the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The draft Regulations were developed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) following extensive consultations with stakeholders including civil society, labour, business, academia, and technical experts. Further input was incorporated through inter-governmental collaboration to ensure broad consensus and transparency.
The Regulations aim to implement key provisions of sections 26 and 27 of the Climate Change Act, empowering the Minister to:
Establish a formal list of greenhouse gases and high-emission activities;
Allocate carbon budgets to major emitters; and
Require the submission of greenhouse gas mitigation plans.
These steps are central to guiding South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy, while also promoting economic development and social inclusion.
Minister George highlighted the importance of this milestone:
“These draft Regulations represent a critical advancement in our journey toward a sustainable, low-carbon future. By defining carbon budgets and outlining clear mitigation responsibilities, we are building a framework that helps meet our national and global climate obligations while driving inclusive economic progress. I urge all stakeholders to actively engage in the upcoming public comment process.”
The draft Regulations and Technical Guidelines will be formally published for comment in early August 2025. Notifications will appear in at least one national newspaper and the Government Gazette, and formal letters have already been sent to Cabinet members, MECs, the South African Local Government Association, and the Presidential Climate Commission—ensuring alignment with sections 31 and 32 of the Climate Change Act.
The Technical Guidelines are designed to enhance transparency and support South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which aim to limit greenhouse gas emissions to between 350 and 420 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030.
The DFFE encourages all interested parties to participate in the public comment process and help shape South Africa’s climate governance framework for a sustainable future.