Important preparations are currently underway for the implementation of the Climate Change Act. (Guillem Sartorio/AFP)
The Climate Change Act is legally complex and will require “considerable preparation” before it comes into force, Forests, Fisheries and Environment Minister Dion George said.
The Minister said the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment has begun engaging with key governments and other stakeholders in preparation for the promulgation of the Act.
This was contained in a recent written response to a parliamentary question posed to George by Democratic Alliance member Wildri Dennis Peach, a member of the parliamentary portfolio committee on forests, fisheries and the environment.
Mr Peach asked the Minister whether the Department had begun preparations for the implementation of the Act and was engaging with the necessary stakeholders.
In his response, Mr George said his department had been working with the Treasury, particularly on the important issue of providing financial support to implement the Act.
“The Ministry's technical teams are working together to prepare for the implementation of the Climate Change Act. This work, given the costs of implementing the Climate Change Act, will be carried out through intergovernmental working structures, in particular Working Group 9. It is also progressing through
The minister said a formal letter from the ministry to relevant departments, provinces and local authorities was in the final stages “informing the process of declaration of roles mandated by the Climate Change Act”.
The Presidential Climate Commission is “engaged” and the technical team is helping formalize the commission's secretariat structure.
“Finally, the ministry's team, in consultation with other government departments, is working to put in place the necessary regulations to ensure readiness for the promulgation and implementation of the law.”
The Minister said the Bill was a major step forward in coordinating and streamlining South Africa's response to climate change.
“The signing of the Climate Change Act at the start of the new government's term provides a very good basis for this. and the implementation of national policies, as well as international obligations.”
George said the legislation would not only provide for an enhanced response given the urgency of the climate crisis, but would also address the ongoing and “has been going on within the department for some time” and across government. It is said to be an integration of many efforts.
