South Africa sets more ambitious climate targets for 2025 and 2030

South Africa has updated its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The country aims to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 398-510 MtCO_2eq in 2025 and to 350-420 MtCO_2eq in 2030, while the first NDC initially aimed to limit emissions to 398-614 MtCO_2eq in 2025-2030. 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 32%.

South Africa’s total GHG emissions excluding FOLU (forestry and other land use) increased by 14% between 2000 and 2017 to 513 MtCO_2eq, according to the country’s 7^th National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Report. The energy sector is the largest contributor to emissions excluding FOLU (80%) and is responsible for 97% of the increase over 2000-2017. CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion decreased by 6.5% in 2020 due to the energy demand reduction after the COVID 19 pandemic crisis. They reached 395 MtCO₂, 36% above the 1990 level.