PRESENTATION NOTES: PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) argues that the Climate Change Bill requires stronger enforcement mechanisms, more ambitious emissions targets, and greater transparency to effectively address the climate crisis in South Africa. The CER emphasizes that climate change is a human rights and gender justice issue, noting that women and girls face disproportionate risks. Key recommendations include the introduction of criminal and administrative penalties for exceeding carbon budgets, the adoption of a 'near zero' emissions target by 2050, and the creation of a public web-based information portal for climate data. The CER also calls for more inclusive public participation, particularly for remote communities, youth, and women, and suggests establishing an inter-departmental body to coordinate the climate response across government.

• Climate change in South Africa is characterized as a human rights issue that causes tangible disruptions, including rising food prices, restricted water access, unemployment, climate migration, and potential internal conflict.
• Climate change exacerbates gender-based violence and systemic discrimination; women and girls in South Africa are more vulnerable due to their roles in fetching water and firewood and maintaining subsistence food gardens.
• The current Bill lacks necessary timeframes and deadlines for critical mitigation mechanisms, specifically the allocation of carbon budgets and the determination of sectoral emissions targets.
• The Bill's provisions for information access are deemed insufficient because they rely on PAIA and POPIA, which allow information to be withheld on commercial grounds; the CER advocates for the automatic disclosure of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission data.
• The CER recommends that the Bill adopt a long-term target of "actual zero" or "near zero" total emissions by 2050, and zero emissions from fossil fuel combustion by 2040, rather than relying on "net zero" which may depend on uncertain technology.
• The Bill is criticized for lacking adequate penalties for non-compliance, particularly for exceeding carbon budgets, noting that carbon taxes alone may not be enough to disincentivize violations.
• There is a lack of provision in the Bill for capacity-building, funding, and skills transfer for municipalities and provinces tasked with implementing climate response measures.
• To improve government coordination, the CER suggests establishing a non-political inter-departmental body, creating a dedicated climate change component in the national budget, and mainstreaming climate considerations in state procurement.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2022). PRESENTATION NOTES: PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CER-oral-submission-to-PPCEFF-Climate-Change-Bill-7-September-2022.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. PRESENTATION NOTES: PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES. 2022. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CER-oral-submission-to-PPCEFF-Climate-Change-Bill-7-September-2022.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=PRESENTATION NOTES: PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES |date=7 September 2022 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CER-oral-submission-to-PPCEFF-Climate-Change-Bill-7-September-2022.pdf?x21779 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2022presentation, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{PRESENTATION NOTES: PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2022}, month = sep, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CER-oral-submission-to-PPCEFF-Climate-Change-Bill-7-September-2022.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }