Provincial Public Participation Workshops: 2018 Climate Change Bill

Introduction and background		Objectives		Target participants		Event schedule / programme		Documents for download

Introduction and Background

Climate change is a global challenge requiring both international and domestic solutions. The global climate change response – in which South Africa participates - imposes obligations on developed and developing countries to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to climate change impacts.

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has been engaged in; [building on the gains achieved through the National Climate Change Response Policy (White Paper)]; leading a national process of developing a national climate change response legislative framework;  in the form of a draft bill that will be presented to Cabinet for approval to publish the draft bill for public comments.

The overarching premise for the proposed Climate Change Bill is South Africa’s particular vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, the effects of which are already being experienced. Indications are that even with the implementation of appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures these impacts will increasingly be experienced across a number of sectors including waterresources; agriculture and food production; forestry and fisheries; human health; energygeneration; industry; humansettlements and migration;disaster management; biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems.Impacts will disproportionately affect the poor and most vulnerable groups; and, South Africa’s ability to meet its development and economic growth goals, including job creation and poverty reduction. It is further inspired by South Africa´s contribution to global GHG emissions and South Africa´s commitment to the Paris Agreement.

Objectives
 

The initial design, evaluation and revision of policy initiatives benefits from considering the input and views provided by citizens and stakeholders, including those who will be directly affected by the policy but also those who are involved in ensuring its correct application.  In this regard, the premise of the early consultation on the bill is to promote greater acceptance of the policy initiative.

The objectives of the stakeholder engagement workshops are as follows:

• To publicise the gazetted Climate Change Bill as a proposed legal framework for South Africa’s climate change response
• To solicit comments and inputs from interested and affected stakeholders on the climate change bill
• To create a basis for the positive support for the climate change bill at parliamentary public hearings stage prior to promulgation.

Targeted participants / stakeholders and project partners

DEA will deliver this project in partnership with the 9 Provincial Departments of Environmental Affairs, GIZ as the funding partner and Climate Legal as the consultants appointed to support the Department in the development of the Climate Change Bill.

The climate change legal framework topic is a somewhat complex topic that requires a well versed knowledge of the subject of climate change, in order for participants to optimally contribute to the discussion. In this light, the participation of stakeholder groups with expertise or technical knowledge in climate change as well as interested and affected parties with interest on the topic of climate change is encouraged.

Download documents 
 

• Climate Change Bill, 2018: For public comment [G 41689 – GN 580]
• Gauteng Provincial Stakeholder Engagement Workshop - Invitation
• Gauteng Provincial Stakeholder Engagement Workshop - Programme
• Eastern Cape –Mthatha - Provincial Stakeholder Engagement Workshop
• Eastern Cape –Port Elizabeth - Provincial Stakeholder Engagement Workshop
• KwaZulu-Natal – Durban - Provincial Stakeholder Engagement Workshop
• Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS)
• Memorandum on the objects of the Climate Change Bill, 2018

Duration / project schedule
 

The provincial stakeholder consultation will take place June – July 2018, within the anticipated 60 day public commenting period for the Draft Bill.
 

For overall project related matters; please contact:

Ms Dineo Ngobeni
Director: Administration and Co-ordination
Climate Change and Air Quality Management
Tel: 012 399 9138
E-mail: dngobeni@environment.gov.za

Meetings scheduled for June 2019 are to be held as follows:

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