South Africa has several reporting obligations to comply with under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The two main documents produced by DEAT in accordance with these requirements are:
The National Communication
The National Climate Change Response Strategy

National Communication
Under Article 4.1 and 12.1 of the UNFCCC, South Africa (as a party to the Convention) is obliged to report to the COP of the UNFCCC ‘on its: “emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol (greenhouse gas inventories); national or, where appropriate, regional programmes containing measures to mitigate, and to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change (general description of steps taken or envisaged by the Party to implement the Convention); and any other information that the Party considers relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention.”

This information is contained within a ‘National Communication’. South Africa submitted its initial National Communication to the UNFCCC at COP9 (December 2003). This NC has now been published on the main UNFCCC website.

Click below to download the following documents.
Initial South African National Communication
UNFCCC guidelines for the production of National Communications by Non-Annex 1 Countries

National Climate Change Response Strategy
Under Article 4.1 of the UNFCCC, South Africa (as a Party to the Convention) is obliged to:
Subsection (b) Formulate, implement, publish and regularly update national and, where appropriate, regional programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change....and measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change
Subsection (f) Take climate change considerations into account...in their relevant social, economic and environmental policies and actions....
In order to comply with these commitments, DEAT has prepared a National Climate Change Response Strategy, which describes a broad framework for action on the above. This document is a starting point for action and from it will evolve a series of action plans for each of the key sectors associated with climate related issues in South Africa. The Response Strategy is still in draft form but is due to be considered by Cabinet within the next few months.

Once approved, a copy of the National Climate Change Response Strategy will be available here.

Ozone reporting? – to be completed