Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa, is calling on the public to comment on the recently published National Climate Change Bill.

According to the department the purpose of the Bill, which was published in in Government Gazette 41689 (Notice No. 636), is to build an effective climate change response and ensure the long-term, just transition to a climate resilient and lower carbon economy and society.

“This will be done within the context of sustainable development for South Africa, and will provide for all matters related to climate change,” the Department of Environmental Affairs said in a statement.

A threat to human societies

The department said the Bill acknowledges that anthropogenic climate change represents an urgent threat to human societies and the environment and requires an effective, progressive and well-coordinated response.

“It further highlights that, among others, anticipated domestic climate change impacts have the potential to undermine the country’s development goals, and that responses to climate change raise unique challenges, thus requiring a legislative framework for the implementation of the country’s national climate change response,” the department said.

The National Climate Change Bill addresses issues related to institutional and coordination arrangement across the three spheres of government namely national, provincial and local. It also highlights the need for the spheres of government and entities, sectors as well business to respond to challenges of climate change.

Stakeholder workshops

A Series of Provincial Stakeholder Engagement Workshops, where all stakeholders and interested parties will be able to comment on the National Climate Change Bill, will be hosted by the department countrywide.

Members of the public are invited to submit to the Minister, by 8 August 2018, written inputs or comments to the following addresses:

By post to:     The Director-General: Department of Environmental Affairs, Attention:  Ms Dineo Ngobeni, Private Bag X447, Pretoria, 0001

By hand to:       Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0002

By email to:       climate@environmment.gov.za

Any inquiries in connection with the National Climate Change Bill, 2018, can be directed to Mr Tlou Ramaru at 012 399 9252 and/or Ms Deborah Ramalope at 012 399 9160.

Copies of the socio-economic impact assessment report and memorandum of objects are available at: https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/seia_climatebill.pdf

To access the National Climate Change Bill, click on: https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/legislations/climatechangebill2018_gn41689.pdf