South Africa is showing promising progress towards meeting its climate goals, aiming to limit greenhouse gas emissions to 420 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent by 2030.Most of the country’s emissions — over 80% — come from the energy sector, largely due to coal-fired power plants and petrol and diesel vehicles.A recent R3.

8 billion loan from Germany, as part of the Just Energy Transition Partnership, will support the shift to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

International comparisons reveal that South Africa contributes roughly 1% to global emissions, but per capita emissions are lower than in countries like Australia and the US.

Trend analyses from 2000 to 2022 suggest that, despite fluctuations, the nation is on course to achieve its targets, with forecasts ranging between 360 and 470 MtCO2-eq by 2030 depending on the time period considered.

Achieving these goals is vital to mitigate extreme weather events such as floods, heatwaves, and droughts, which threaten health, livelihoods, and food security.The country’s commitment aligns with the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming to below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C.Continued monitoring and investments in renewable energy are key to keeping South Africa’s climate promises on track.