South Africa’s transport sector needs to closely monitor its environmental practices, especially following the appointment of Barbara Creecy as minister of transport.
Creecy, formerly the minister of environment, forestry and fisheries, brings significant experience to the transport department at a crucial time, when sectoral emission targets are being established.
Creecy has played a key role in the recently approved Climate Change Bill, which she believes will establish a crucial legal framework to regulate activities contributing to climate change. This Bill aims to ensure an effective response across all levels of government and society, facilitate a just transition and capitalise on economic opportunities presented by the global shift to a green economy.
With transport currently responsible for 12% of South Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions, the introduction of sectoral emission targets through the Climate Change Bill is eagerly anticipated. Liesl de Wet, chairperson of the Road Freight Association (RFA) green transport group, highlighted that details of these targets had yet to be announced. Currently, the transport sector is grouped under one umbrella, and how it will be segmented into different categories is uncertain.
She said it was important for transport businesses to start preparing for these sectoral targets.
While it remains uncertain when President Cyril Ramaphosa will sign the Bill, there is no doubt that its signing is imminent, making it law.
Creecy herself has reiterated on several occasions the urgent need for South Africa to respond to climate change, emphasising that the country has relatively little time to act. "The Bill empowers us to respond at the necessary scale and speed," she stated in April, following its approval by the National Council of Provinces.
