Climate Change Act, 2024 (Act No. 22 of 2024)Chapter 5 : Greenhouse Gas Emisssions and Removals25. Sectoral emissions targets |
(1)
| (a) | The Minister must, within one year of the coming into operation of this Act, by notice in the Gazette, list the greenhouse gas emitting sectors and sub-sectors that are subject to sectoral emissions targets. |
| (b) | The list contemplated in paragraph (a) must appropriately reflect the national greenhouse gas emissions profile. |
| (2) | The Minister may vary the list of sectors and sub-sectors that are subject to sectoral emissions targets guided by the national greenhouse gas emissions profile. |
| (3) | The Minister must, in consultation with the Ministers responsible for each sector and sub-sector listed in terms of subsections (1) and (2), determine by notice in the Gazette the prescribed framework and the sectoral emissions targets for sectors and sub-sectors. |
| (4) | Sectoral emissions targets must— |
| (a) | be implemented by the Ministers responsible for the administration of sectors or sub-sectors listed in terms of subsections (1) and (2) through the relevant planning instruments, policies and programmes; |
| (b) | be aligned with the national greenhouse gas emissions trajectory, noting that the cumulative amount of greenhouse gas emission reductions which the sectoral emissions targets represent, ensures that the national greenhouse gas emissions profile is kept within the national greenhouse gas emissions trajectory; and |
| (c) | include quantitative and qualitative greenhouse gas emission reduction goals for the first five years, the subsequent five to 10 years and for a 10 to 15 year period thereafter. |
| (5) | When determining the sectoral emissions targets, the Minister must take all relevant considerations into account, including, amongst others— |
| (a) | the socio-economic impacts of introducing the sectoral emissions targets; and |
| (b) | the best available science, evidence and information. |
| (6) | The Minister responsible for each sector or sub-sector for which sectoral emissions targets have been determined, in accordance with subsection (3), must adopt policies and measures towards the achievement of the sectoral emissions targets. |
| (7) | The Minister, in consultation with the Ministers responsible for each sector and sub-sector listed in terms of subsections (1) and (2), must, every five years, review the sectoral emissions targets and, when the outcome of the review or national circumstances require it, revise and amend the sectoral emissions targets, including when the need for such revision and amendment is demonstrated by— |
| (a) | monitoring and evaluation results; |
| (b) | technological advances; |
| (c) | the best available science, evidence or information; |
| (d) | the Republic’s international commitments and obligations; |
| (e) | the strategic importance of the sector or sub-sector as a catalyst for growth and job creation in the economy; or |
| (f) | the agreed approach to the just transition. |
| (8) | An amended sectoral emissions target must contain quantitative and qualitative mitigation targets for the first five years, for the subsequent five to 10 years and for a 10 to 15 year period thereafter. |
| (9) | The Minister responsible for each sector and sub-sector for which sectoral emissions targets have been determined, within one year of the publication of the sectoral emissions targets, must— |
| (a) | develop or amend the relevant sectoral and sub-sectoral policies and measures for which that Minister is responsible in terms of the achievement of the sectoral emissions targets; |
| (b) | publish such amendment in the Gazette; |
| (c) | implement the policies and measures within the relevant sectors and sub-sectors; and |
| (d) | monitor the effectiveness of implementing such policies and measures in achieving the relevant sectoral emissions target. |
| (10) | The Minister responsible for each sector and sub-sector for which sectoral emissions targets have been revised and amended in terms of subsection (7) must— |
| (a) | within six months of the publication of the revised and amended sectoral emissions targets and to the extent required by such revision and amendment, revise and amend the policies and measures provided for in subsection (9); |
| (b) | publish such revisions and amendments by notice in the Gazette; and |
| (c) | ensure that the duly revised and amended policies and measures are implemented and monitored for effectiveness. |
| (11) | The Minister responsible for each sector and sub-sector for which sectoral emissions targets have been determined in terms of subsection (3), or for which revised and amended sectoral emissions targets have been determined in terms of subsection (7), must annually report to the Presidency on progress towards the achievement of the relevant sectoral emissions targets. |
| (12) | The Minister must collate, compile and synthesise the reports provided in terms of subsection (11) and submit progress reports on the implementation of the sectoral emissions targets to Cabinet on an annual basis. |