South Africa releases its updated draft NDC

South Africa has released its updated draft Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for public consultation. According to the document, the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions should be limited to 398-510 MtCO_2eq in 2025 and to 398-440 MtCO_2eq in 2030. By comparison to the targets contained in South Africa’s first NDC (2015), the upper end of the target range in 2025 has been reduced by 17%, and the upper end of the target range in 2030 has been reduced by 28%.

In 2017, South Africa’ GHG emissions (excluding LULUCF) reached 556 MtCO_2eq (+23% since 2000), according to the country’s Draft 7^th National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (2020). The energy sector is the largest contributor (79% in 2017) to emissions (excluding LULUCF) and is responsible for 90% of the increase since 2000. Yet, CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion have been decreasing by 1.4%/year since 2014, reaching 422 MtCO₂ in 2019.