South Africa has scaled back its ambitions to cut down on the greenhouse emissions that come from burning fossil fuels and which cause global warming.
The government’s new 2030-2035 pledge to protect the climate only commits to reducing the 2025-2030 target of 350-420 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide that can be emitted, to 320-380 metric tonnes to be emitted between 2030 and 2035.
Scientists from the Presidential Climate Commission, the body advising government on climate policy, have argued that the country should go further. In their analysis, South Africa could credibly aim to reduce its carbon emissions by around 25%-30% more between 2030 and 2035.
