TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: South Africa has taken a significant step towards combating climate change with the recent signing of a comprehensive Climate Change Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
EXPLANATION:
- This legislation imposes mandatory emission curbs on large, fossil-fuel heavy industries and requires climate-adaptation plans from towns and villages, aligning the country’s efforts with its commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Features of the Climate Change Bill
- Emission Reduction Commitments
- The primary feature of the new law is the imposition of mandatory emission reductions on major industrial sectors.
- This is crucial for South Africa, which relies heavily on coal for electricity generation and is one of the world’s top 15 greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters.
- The bill aims to systematically lower these emissions, helping the country meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
- Climate-Adaptation Plans
- The legislation requires towns and villages to develop and implement climate-adaptation plans.
- These plans will help communities prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change, ensuring resilience and sustainability.
- Historical Context and Approval
- The Climate Change Bill was approved by South Africa’s National Assembly in November 2023.
- This approval came amid growing international pressure on South Africa to transition away from fossil fuels, given its significant contribution to global GHG emissions.
Significance of the Law
- South Africa’s reliance on coal has made it a major emitter of GHGs.
- In 2017, net emissions were estimated at 512 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e), a 14% increase from 2000.
- Although emissions fell to 405 Mt CO2e in 2022, the need for stringent measures remains crucial to sustain this downward trend.
- As an economy dependent on agriculture and tourism, South Africa faces increasing pressure from Western countries to accelerate its transition away from fossil fuels.
- This law is a step towards balancing economic needs with environmental responsibilities.
South Africa’s Steps Towards Emission Reduction
- South Africa’s first NDC was submitted in 2016, with an updated version in 2021.
- The updated NDC commits to a 31% reduction in GHG emissions by 2025, targeting levels of 398-510 Mt CO2e, and further reducing to 350-420 Mt CO2e by 2030.
- The NDC outlines a ‘just transition’ approach, focusing on sustainable job creation away from fossil-fuel-dependent industries.
- It targets sectors such as agriculture, forestry, energy, industrial processes, and waste management, estimating an annual requirement of $8 billion by 2030 to achieve these goals.
- South Africa aims to reach ‘net zero emissions’ by 2050, as outlined in its Low-Emission Development Strategy submitted in 2020.
- The Presidential Climate Commission’s Just Transition Framework, released in 2022, aims to inform policy making at the nexus of climate and development, enabling deep, just transformational shifts.
India’s Approach to Climate Change
- Absence of Comprehensive Legislation
- India currently lacks a comprehensive legislation specifically addressing climate change.
- However, climate change issues are incorporated into multiple acts and subordinate legislations, such as the Environmental Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, Energy Conservation Act, and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
- Private Member’s Bill
- In 2022, Rajya Sabha parliamentarian Priyanka Chaturvedi proposed the Council on Climate Change Bill.
- This private member’s bill aimed to establish a Council chaired by the Prime Minister to advise the government on climate change matters.
- Despite its potential, the bill has seen little progress.
- Supreme Court Ruling
- In April 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that citizens have a “right against the adverse effects of climate change,” highlighting the need for an omnibus legislation on climate change.
- The Court emphasized that the impact of climate change impedes rights to liberty, life, and equality guaranteed by the Constitution.
- India’s National Commitments
- India communicated a reduction in energy emissions intensity by 33% from 2005-2019, ahead of its target.
- The updated NDC commits to a 45% reduction by 2030.
- India also aims to source 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel resources by 2030.
