South Africa's Climate Change Act 2024 (Act No. 22 of 2024), assented on 23 July 2024 and substantially commenced on 17 March 2025, exists "to enable the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term, just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society for South Africa in the context of sustainable development." It establishes a national GHG emissions trajectory, sectoral emissions targets and carbon budgets, alongside the pre-existing Carbon Tax Act 2019. South Africa's updated NDC, from 27 September 2021, sets a fixed emissions range of 398 to 510 Mt CO2-eq for 2025 and 350 to 420 Mt CO2-eq for 2030, a considerable tightening of its previous business-as-usual target.
Projects
Durban Landfill Gas-to-Electricity Project
The first landfill gas project registered in Africa under the Clean Development Mechanism, at Durban's Mariannhill landfill.
Jasper Solar Energy Project
A 96 MW-DC solar plant near Postmasburg, Northern Cape, selling all its electricity to Eskom under a 20-year contract.
Kuzuko Spekboom Restoration
Replanting spekboom to restore degraded Albany Thicket inside a protected Eastern Cape reserve.
SUNCASA in Johannesburg
Restoring the Jukskei River catchment in Alexandra to cut flood and pollution risk for 1.045 million people.
Transformative Riverine Management Programme, Durban
eThekwini Municipality's programme to manage the city's rivers as natural infrastructure against floods, with community co-operatives cleaning and maintaining the streams.
Regulation
Framework law
"ACT To enable the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term, just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society for South Africa in the context of sustainable development; and to provide for matters connected therewith."Long title, Government Gazette Vol. 709 No. 50966, p.2
Establishes a national GHG emissions trajectory, sectoral emissions targets, carbon budgets (Ch.5), provincial/municipal climate response duties (Ch.3) and a National/Sector Adaptation Strategy and Plan (Ch.4); complements the existing Carbon Tax Act 15 of 2019.
Issuing body: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment / Presidential Climate Commission · Corroborated
NDC
"In 2025, South Africa's annual GHG emissions will be in a range from 398-510 Mt CO2-eq. In 2030, South Africa's annual GHG emissions will be in a range from 350-420 Mt CO2-eq."§3(a) (Scope and coverage), p.18
Fixed-level emissions-range targets (down from the prior range) for 2025 and 2030, economy-wide (Energy, IPPU, AFOLU, Waste; CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs); first adaptation communication under Article 7 included.
Issuing body: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment · Corroborated
Carbon market
"To provide for the imposition of a tax on the carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions; and to provide for matters connected therewith." / "5. (1) The rate of the carbon tax on greenhouse gas emissions must, subject to subsections (2) and (3), be imposed at an amount of R120 per ton carbon dioxide equivalent of the greenhouse gas emissions of a taxpayer." / "21. This Act is called the Carbon Tax Act, 2019, and comes into operation on 1 June 2019."long title; s.5(1) (Rate of tax); s.21 (Short title and commencement); assent noted beneath the enacting words
Imposes a carbon tax on the CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions of entities above set thresholds, at R120 per tonne at enactment, with allowances for fossil fuel combustion, process and fugitive emissions, trade exposure, performance, carbon budgets and carbon offsets (s.13), administered with the Customs and Excise Act.
Issuing body: Parliament of South Africa · Single source