When Did South Africa Ratify the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement, a historic international treaty on climate change, was adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2015. Its goal is to limit global warming to less than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. One hundred and ninety-five countries signed the agreement, including South Africa, which ratified it on November 1, 2016.

South Africa’s decision to ratify the Paris Agreement was an important step in the country’s efforts to address the challenge of climate change. The country is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in Africa and is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as droughts and floods.

As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, South Africa committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 34% below business as usual by 2020, and by 42% below business as usual by 2025. The country also pledged to transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, and to enhance its capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

In addition to its domestic commitments, South Africa has played an active role in international climate negotiations, including at the annual UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP) meetings. At COP21 in Paris in 2015, South Africa was part of the African Group of Negotiators, which successfully pushed for the inclusion of the 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature limit in the final agreement. South Africa has also been a vocal advocate of climate finance and the need for developed countries to support developing countries in their efforts to address climate change.

Despite its commitments, South Africa faces a number of challenges in implementing its climate targets. The country is heavily dependent on coal for its energy needs, and the transition to renewables has been slow. There is also a lack of political will and resources to implement climate policies and programs. In addition, South Africa’s vulnerability to climate impacts means that it will need extensive adaptation measures to protect its communities and ecosystems.

While South Africa’s ratification of the Paris Agreement was an important step, much work remains to be done to address the challenges of climate change. The country will need to continue to build its capacity to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate, while ensuring that its economic development is sustainable and inclusive.