Staff of Reuters 3 Minutes to Read JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) – For economic and health reasons, a commission advising the president has advised that South Africa adopt a more aggressive emissions reduction target in the run-up to a United Nations climate meeting this year. PHOTO FROM THE FILE: Outside of Caledon, South Africa, on May 20, 2020, wind turbines provide sustainable electricity. Mike Hutchings/REUTERS President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked a panel of officials, scientists, and campaigners to advise him on the government’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which will be submitted in November at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow. The maximum limit of the goal range for greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 was dramatically lowered in a draft NDC presented by the environment department in March, to a range of 398-440 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e). The Presidential Climate Commission, on the other hand, advocated a lower range of 350-420 Mt CO2e in 2030, according to the paper. South Africa emitted around 480-490 Mt CO2e last year, according to Climate Action Tracker. Setting a more aggressive goal “opens up the opportunity of increased amounts of international climate financing support,” the climate commission said, as well as making the economy more competitive in the long run and achieving health benefits by lowering air pollution. Africa’s most developed economy is also the continent’s leading emitter of greenhouse gases. Eskom, a state-owned power utility that primarily generates electricity by burning coal, is one of the worst violators. However, since Ramaphosa took office as president in February 2018, the administration has committed to act more quickly to tackle climate change and has proposed policies targeted at embracing renewable energy generation. In an interview with Reuters this week, a top Eskom executive said the firm was selling a $10 billion proposal to global financiers that would see the company shut down the vast bulk of its coal facilities by 2050. The commission emphasized the dangers that a fast decarbonising global economy poses to South Africa, including potential trade obstacles on emissions-intensive products. Ramaphosa said the commission’s suggestions, as well as public comments received during the consultation process, would inform his cabinet’s deliberations on the draft NDC, according to a statement released by the presidency. Alexander Winning contributed reporting, and Philippa Fletcher edited the piece./n
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