South Africa Adopts Tougher Emission Goal Before COP26

(Bloomberg) -- South Africa’s cabinet adopted a lower greenhouse gas emission target, following the recommendation of a panel set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of the COP26 international climate change meeting.

The target, known as the country’s nationally determined contribution, recommended by the Presidential Climate Change Coordinating Commission is to keep annual emissions at between 350 and 420 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030, according to a cabinet statement on Monday. The environment department had earlier recommended a less ambitious target of between 398 and 440 megatons and in South Africa’s previous NDC, set in 2015, which had a range of between 398 and 614 megatons. 

The target is seen as a key indication of the country’s ambition to decarbonize an economy that is the world’s 12th biggest source of greenhouse gases. South Africa relies on coal for almost all of its power generation and is trying to secure the finance needed to enable it to help national power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. transition to the use of more renewable energy. Eskom produces two fifths of South Africa’s greenhouse gases.

At the same time the cabinet approved the submission of the National Climate Change Bill to parliament, key legislation that will enable government structures to enact climate-related measures. It also approved the replacement of a nuclear research reactor.

COP26 begins in Glasgow on Oct. 31.

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