Three key committees have been established to guide DEAT staff on their approach to climate change and ozone layer protection issues:
1. The National Committee on Climate Change (NCCC)
2. The Government Committee on Climate Change (GCCC)
3. The National Committee for Ozone Layer Protection (NCOLP)

National Committee on Climate Change (NCCC)
The purpose of the National Committee on Climate Change (NCCC) is to advise and consult the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, through the Director General of DEAT, on matters relating to national responsibilities with respect to climate change – and particular in relation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol.

The NCCC meets four times per annum, unless additional meetings are urgently required. It has the following functions:

• To set its own agenda and timetable, within a framework as determined by the Minister and Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
  
• To make recommendations to the Department and the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism on issues related to climate change, and also to express the concerns of key stakeholders
  
• To design and participate in a process leading to the formulation of a national climate change policy and a national implementation strategy
  
• To propose studies that need to be undertaken in support of the national climate change policy process, what their scope, timetable, budget an deadlines should be and within the limits of the available funds, advise the Department to perform them, and review and disseminate the results.
  
• To communicate developments within the national and international climate change arena to their constituencies
  
• To delegate its functions and responsibilities to sub-committees as needed
  
• To assist with a structured process of capacity building and technology transfer/development.
  
  

Composition of the Committee:
The composition of the NCCC is designed to provide representation from the main stakeholder groups involved in climate change issues across South African society. It is constituted to consist of at least two (and at most five) representatives from each of the following stakeholder groups:

• National Government (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Department of Minerals and Energy, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Department of Housing, Department of Transport, Department of Arts & Culture, Department of Science and Technology)
  
• Provincial Governments
  
• Non-governmental and community based environmental organizations
  
• Business and Industry
  
• Labour
  
  

Government Committee on Climate Change
The purpose of the Government Committee on Climate Change (GCCC) is to advise the Sub-directorate for Climate Change and Ozone Layer Protection on matters relating to national responsibilities with respect to climate change, and in particular, in relation to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol.

The GCCC meets * times per annum. Its functions include:

• Providing advice to the sub-directorate on the formulation of National Climate Change Strategy and Policy
  
• Discussing Global Climate Change projects, including projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and other flexible mechanisms
  
• Promotion of, and in certain cases, initiation of Global Climate Change research in South Africa
  
• Promotion of regional issues
  
  

It meets before each NCCC meeting to discuss the government’s position on issues arising at the NCCC. It does not directly advise the NCCC but participates equally in the NCCC to strengthen the Government’s position. The secretariat for the Committee is provided by DEAT and the committee is chaired by the Deputy Director (? Deputy Director) of the Sub-directorate for Climate Change (check this). Non-government personages can be asked to address the meetings of GCCC on specific issues, if required.

The GCCC is composed on one Principle Delegate and one Alternate Delegate from each of the following government departments:

• Department of Agriculture
  
• Department of Arts, Science, Culture and Technology (changed names)
  
• Department of Foreign Affairs
  
• Department of Health
  
• Department of Housing
  
• Department of Local and Provincial Government
  
• Department of Minerals and Energy
  
• Department of Trade and Industry
  Department of Transport
  

National Committee for Ozone Layer Protection (NCOLP) -- For information on this committee, contact Sam Manikele on smanikela@deat.gov.za