Publication - NDC Implementation in South Africa Through Green Investments by Private Sector: a Scoping Study

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Title

NDC Implementation in South Africa Through Green Investments by Private Sector: a Scoping Study

Publisher

World Bank

Author

World Bank

Published in

March 2021

Abstract

South Africa, like many other developing countries, is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and has the task of balancing accelerating economic growth and transformation with sustainable use of environmental resources and responding to climate change (DEA, 2017). South Africa is vulnerable to natural disasters such as drought, flooding, extreme storms and fires and has faced a number of devastating climate-related disasters over the last few decades and their impacts have been varying. The country is projected to face a higher frequency of climate-related disasters that are increasing in intensity, and these events are likely to be associated with impacts that are on par with, if not worse that those already experienced (DEA, 2018). The impact of climate related disasters are wide-ranging and impact multiple sectors, including damage to infrastructure, damage to ecosystems, and contributing to water shortages, rising food insecurity and impacting public health.

In terms of GHG emissions, South Africa is the largest emitter in Africa. This circumstance therefore triggers just transition issues. South Africa continues to make significant strides toward transition to a climate resilient and low carbon economy. The country has taken numerous steps to respond to the climate change challenges in partnership with climate change stakeholders. South Africa is a signatory of numerous global climate change responses including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. South Africa progressed significantly in developing its policies to respond to climate change, through its National Climate Change Response White Paper (NCCRWP), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Climate Change Bill. Key developments, since the NCCRWP, have been the submission of the country’s NDC (DEA, 2015) and the Draft National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS) which has been drafted and revised (DEA, 2019). The National Development Plan 2030 for a just transition to a low carbon, climate resilient economy and society, Carbon Tax Bill, Greenhouse Gas Emissions reporting, Climate Change Bill and Pollution Prevention Plan regulations are substantial policy steps undertaken by the country to curb GHG emissions and enhance climate resilience. South Africa’s NDC consists of an adaptation component, a mitigation component, and a support component. A key challenge highlighted in SA’s NDC is the limited ability to catalyse finance and investment at an economy wide scale for the transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society (DEA,

2015). The NDC identifies the major climate change adaptation and mitigation programmes that could be scaled-up to support this challenge, several of which correspond with the country’s Climate Change Flagship Programmes.

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• Climate Change

• Impacts