Pretoria, South Africa – July 2025
In a move that could reshape its climate trajectory, the South African government has launched a new round of public consultations aimed at revising the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) — the official climate plan submitted under the Paris Agreement.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) announced that a series of town halls, stakeholder workshops, and digital surveys would be conducted nationwide through October 2025, inviting citizens, industry, youth groups, and environmental organizations to weigh in on the country’s next emissions targets.
“This is about building a just, inclusive climate pathway for all South Africans,” said Minister Barbara Creecy. “We need bold ambition — but also social consensus and support.”
South Africa’s last NDC submission in 2021 committed to reducing emissions by 28%–33% below 2015 levels by 2030, largely through investment in renewables, electric mobility, and the gradual phase-down of coal.
However, mounting international pressure and worsening climate impacts — from floods in KwaZulu-Natal to droughts in the Karoo — have prompted calls for stronger commitments.
Advocacy groups like Earthlife Africa and 350.org are urging the government to set clearer coal decommissioning timelines, accelerate green hydrogen projects, and adopt binding legal mechanisms for enforcement.
On the other hand, labor unions and some business sectors caution against too-rapid a transition that could threaten jobs in mining and heavy industry.
“We support climate action, but it must be fair and job-secure,” said Vuyani Ngoma from the National Union of Mineworkers.
South Africa remains the continent’s top emitter of greenhouse gases, driven largely by its reliance on Eskom’s coal-fired power plants. It also faces significant energy challenges, including ongoing load-shedding and infrastructure shortfalls.
The consultation process is seen as a test of the government’s ability to balance climate ambition with economic realities, while engaging the public in shaping national policy.
Once finalized, the new NDC will be submitted to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
“South Africa’s credibility as a climate leader — and the trust of its people — is on the line,” said Dr. Naledi Mafolo, a climate law expert at Wits University. “This process must be transparent, ambitious, and people-powered.”