President Cyril Ramaphosa has recently received the Presidential Climate Commission report for the five years since its inception in 2020. The report has recommended ways in which different industries could shape their operations to reduce climate change.
The establishment of the commission, which is chaired by Ramaphosa, followed recommendations from the Presidential Jobs Summit in 2018, where social partners agreed to the creation of a multi-stakeholder body to coordinate and oversee the just transition towards a low-carbon, inclusive, climate change resilient economy and society.
Deputy chairperson of the commission, Crispian Olver, said work is unfinished, and the just transition is only beginning.
“The commission has laid down markers of how South Africa can confront climate change while addressing inequality and securing development. It has shown that it is possible to imagine a future where climate ambition and national development can advance together,” Olver said.
What it means for farmers
Janse Rabie, the head of AgriSA Natural Source Centre of Excellence, said the focus is to ensure that agriculture’s voice is not only heard but integrated into climate planning.
“Farmers live closest to the land and are among the most affected by climate change. Their resilience and innovation must be central to our national response.
“Looking ahead, I envision the commission evolving into a permanent institution that continues to convene diverse voices, hold government
accountable, and drive a transition that is not only just, but generationally transformative,” he said.
Reflecting on the past years, Rabie said he had the privilege of representing South Africa’s agricultural sector at a time when climate volatility increasingly threatens food security, rural livelihoods, and natural resource sustainability.
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Meanwhile, Brandon Abdinor from Centre for Environmental Rights said it has been fascinating to watch the balancing act unfold as very different stakeholder interests and constituencies weigh in and share information.
“What is striking is the overwhelmingly enduring commitment to transparent engagement on the part of commissioners, the secretariat, partners and stakeholders,” he said.
The report stated that one of the commission’s central tasks over the next few years will be informing the policy priorities and capital allocation decisions guiding the investment and capital allocation decisions towards the achievement of a lower carbon and climate resilient economy and society.
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“The financing gap for South Africa’s transition remains vast, with estimates exceeding USD 100 billion over the coming decade. Advancing climate finance tracking systems and producing biennial reports to improve transparency and accountability,” according to the report.
It further stated that the first five years of the Presidential Climate Commission offered both a record of progress and a mirror of South
Africa’s broader transition journey.
Action plan to a changing climate
“They reveal the possibilities of inclusive governance, the difficulties of reconciling competing imperatives, and the necessity of embedding justice at the heart of climate action.
“The just transition is no longer an abstract vision. It is underway in repurposed power plants, in municipal strategies, in re-skilled workers, in new industries, and in national dialogues,” the report said.
Ramaphosa added that the passage of the Climate Change Act last year was a crowning achievement for the country. “The commission has initiated a three-sector study into water, built environment and agriculture, and into the development of an adaptation and resilience investment plan.
“When we established this commission, we agreed that its mandate was to provide independent advice and facilitate a common understanding of a just transition, cognisant of the socio-economic, environmental, and technological implications of climate change,” he said.
Ramaphosa said that by embedding sustainability, climate justice, and long-term resilience into the country’s planning and investment decisions, the commission has contributed to securing a climate-resilient and economically inclusive future for all, particularly for the youth.
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