(Virtual Showroom): February was a month committed to climate change as it saw the Climate Change Bill being formally tabled in Parliament on 18 February 2022 by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. The iteration of the Bill was first published for information in October 2021, and an earlier version of the Bill was published in 2018 (https://cer.org.za). As an Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) this is positively welcomed as we are committed to sustainable development and upholding the integrity of the environment. The Bill must now encourage lawmakers to enforce laws that are meaningful in terms of non-compliance.  

“After many years of calling for this Bill to be introduced in Parliament, CER welcomes the tabling of the Bill. We will be scrutinising the Bill as it evolves, and work to ensure that it entrenches meaningful and enforceable carbon budgets and emissions reductions targets,” (Wandisa Phama, Deputy Director at Centre for Environmental Rights-CER, 2022)

The purpose of the Bill is to build an effective climate change response and ensure the long-term, just transition to a climate resilient and lower carbon economy and society.  This will be done within the context of sustainable development for South Africa, and will provide for all matters related to climate change. (https://www.parliament.gov.za).  

As reported by Parliament, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms. Faith Muthambi says the committee will soon start with the public participation process calling for inputs on the Climate Change Bill (https://www.parliament.gov.za) . The committee will start with the process of public participation by advertising the bill and calling for inputs, thereafter the committee will hold public hearings (https://www.parliament.gov.za).

ENVASS will keep abreast with this public participation process and notify our readers of developments regarding the public participation process.