– Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa initiated the Climate Commission in March this year to set a more ambitious emissions reduction target in the leadup to a United Nations climate conference in November.
The commission’s first set of recommendations deals with South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). It will be country’s commitment to address climate change, especially in terms of the Paris agreement.
South Africa continues to advocate for a just transition sensitive to the needs of developing countries, especially those on the African continent. Since the earlier summit highlighted the risks South Africa faces from a rapidly decarbonising global economy. Many of South Africa’s trading partners have adopted net-zero targets, and will be looking to lower their emissions and impose trade barriers on emissions-intensive products.
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The commission also suggested that additional measures to lower emissions should be undertaken, such as decommissioning coal-fired power stations at the end of their commercial life, increasing renewable energy investment and rolling out green transport initiatives.
It is noted that the NDC will submit its buildup to the UN’s COP26 conference in Glasgow this year. A report stated that rhe NDC represents South Africa’s contribution to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.
Moreover, Eskom, which is a South African state power utility and Africa’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, is pitching a $10 billion plan to global lenders that would see it shut many of its coal-fired plants by 2050 and embrace renewable energy.
