DEAT is the lead agency for directing and formulating the national climate change response programme and has the responsibility of ensuring that South Africa’s obligations in terms of the UNFCCC and the IPCC are fulfilled.

Responsibility for this activity within DEAT lies within the Sub-Directorate for Global Climate Change, which itself lies within the Directorate for Air Quality in the Environmental Quality and Protection Branch. A Sub-Directorate for Ozone Layer Protection also sits within the Air Quality Directorate.

The Vision of the two Sub-Directorates is : To manage and coordinate the national Global climate Change response to minimize adverse impacts and maximize the benefits for South Africa, and ensure that Ozone Layer protection measures are carried out to satisfy international obligations.

The key activities of the Sub- Directorates are as follows:

National and International Obligations: to ensure that the national climate change response strategy supports sustainable development and the Government’s priority objectives, as well as the objectives of other international conventions and protocols

Legal Requirements: To ensure that South African Environmental Law adequately accommodates climate change objectives

Education, Training and Capacity Building: To ensure that climate education and training is addressed at all levels and to pursue processes that build up the required capacity to handle climate change, within and external to government.

Institutions: To ensure that appropriate institutions are in place to properly handle climate change in South Africa.

Stakeholder Participation: To enlist the active participation of other stakeholders, via suitable institutions such as the National Committee on Climate Change, to ensure that national climate change policy is broadly acceptable to all sectors within South Africa.

International Negotiations: Continue to play a leading role in the National Delegation to the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP) meetings and all aspects of the negotiation processes for Global Climate Change and Ozone Depletion.

Donor Funding: To establish mechanisms for the registration, coordination and reporting on climate change projects, addressing either adaptation or mitigation areas, to be undertaken through donor funding.

Research: To establish and monitor climate change research relevant to South Africa and the Southern African region in general

Technology Transfer: To establish technology transfer programmes together with other stakeholders and relevant Government departments

Energy Issues: To support energy efficiency programmes across a wide range of activities, including the domestic, industrial, commercial and transport sectors, and the use of renewable energy technologies in appropriate situations.

MA(R)P (or New Africa Initiative): To identify the Climate Change and Ozone Layer protection issues that need to be considered as part of MAP and devise suitable programmes for inclusion.

Regional Liaison: To develop and maintain communication links, forums and joint projects to foster regional co-operation in Climate Change and Ozone Layer response

Communication and Information Management: To develop a communication strategy, clarifying reporting lines within DEAT and with outside stakeholders, and to develop a network of climate change experts.

Staff:
The Sub-Directorate for Global Climate Change contains 4 posts:
Deputy Director Climate Change: Shirley Moroka
Assistant Deputy Director (Inventory, Emissions and Mitigation): Brigit Thovhakale
Assistant Deputy Director (Communications and Awareness Raising): Smangele Mguuba
Environmental Officer: Brenda Thahlamohlaka

See Contact Us for contact details

The Sub-Directorate for Ozone Layer Protection contains 3 posts:
Deputy Director Ozone Layer protection: Sam Manikela
Assistant Deputy Director: Vacant
Environmental Officer: Vacant