Rating C The 8th National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report (NIR), which was recently published, contains the greenhouse inventory from 2000 to 2017. The NIR shows South Africa’s greenhouse gas emission rate has gradually decreased. The first national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory was prepared in 1998 for the UNFCCC and published in 2004 using 1990 to...
Rating A About 2% of the Growth Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa comes from agriculture. Although agriculture contributes a small percentage to the GDP, it is an essential economic growth engine. Climate change adversely affects agriculture due to the lack of water and increased heat stress on plants and animals. Farmers are experiencing...
Rating B (Moderately Effective) Climate change will likely cause major water uncertainty in most of South Africa. With increased drying and flooding, there have been localized effects in regions with small water resource management systems, such as Cape Town. Climate change has influenced annual rainfall, increased runoff, and sea levels. The different climatic conditions, such...
Climate Progress in the First Half of 2003 Rating: C Rating South Africa has no recent emissions reduction statistics over the past six months of 2023. According to previous emission data statistics from all sectors, the energy sector is the primary greenhouse gas contributor, contributing about 95.2% in 2020. Sectoral contribution to CO2 emissions...
The national climate change policy of South Africa was developed as a result of a collaboration between researchers and policymakers. The beginning of the climate change response policy development process started at the 2005 National Climate Change and Science Conference. About 600 government, business, science, academic and civil society representatives gathered at the conference and...
According to the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) rates, South Africa’s climate targets fail to reach the 2030 50% goal. This is because South Africa’s climate change policies and commitments must improve in order to meet the Paris Agreement of 1.5C° temperature limit. South Africa’s electricity is mainly produced from coal. As a result, the country...
The inventory in South Africa shows a total of ZAR 172 billion (USD 10.4 billion) of energy subsidies in 2020/21 see table below. The subsidies include fossil fuels, electricity, hydroelectricity, and nuclear, as well as carbon tax exemptions and bailouts for several carbon-intensive industries. About 77% of the subsidies are delivered as transfers of funds...
