As election day approaches, environmental groups have expressed their disappointment at the lack of ambition on energy and environmental issues shown by key political parties, 350Africa.org said in a statement on Thursday.

350Africa.org supports grassroots-led movements in the fight against fossil fuels and in advancing the use of renewable energy sources.

It said environmental nongovernmental associations have assessed key political parties’ manifestos against the benchmarks of the Paris Climate Agreement.

One of the key findings from this assessment is the lack of a comprehensive, ambitious and innovative vision of what a low-carbon, just and inclusive society should look like – and of the deep systemic transformation that must take place to achieve it, the organisation stated.

“The analysis is not meant as an endorsement for any party in particular – in fact, even the two “best” scoring parties are found lacking, and they don’t come close to offering a satisfactory vision that articulates environmental sustainability or climate, environmental and social justice,” noted African Climate Reality Project Action 24 project manager Noelle Garcin.

“What the analysis does aim to do, is encourage citizens to critically examine the manifestos to inform their vote and hold those who will be elected to account for their actions in the next five years.

“It also calls on the main parties contesting the elections to explicitly and ambitiously mainstream appropriate environmental and climate propositions in their agenda going forward.”

The organisation highlighted that the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape revealed that there were serious gaps in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies which needed to be addressed urgently.

It commiserated that, despite the impacts currently in the public’s consciousness, climate change was hardly standing out as a major, well-articulated election issue.

“The failure of our major political parties to put forward a transformative vision on climate justice is an indictment of our leaders’ willingness to act on the gravest threat facing our society and the planet,” commented 350Africa South African climate justice campaigner Alex Lenferna.

While the statement indicated that climate change and environmental protection were mentioned by the political parties to varying degrees, main political parties have failed to mainstream these issues into all relevant policy sectors.

“While this would require a profound overhaul of our economy and lifestyles, it would also provide a fantastic opportunity: measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change allow us to achieve greater social and economic justice,” said Co-operative and Policy Alternative Centre communications officer Courtney Morgan.

“Well-designed environmental and climate policies do not undermine social welfare; quite the opposite, they stand to benefit the people and the environment at the same time.”