PRESIDENTIAL CLIMATE COMMISSION
Towards A Just Transition
THE PRESIDENCY
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
The PCC is a multi-stakeholder body established by the President of the Republic of South Africa to advise on the country’s climate change response and pathways to a low-carbon climate-resilient economy and society. The PCC conducts its work in an open and transparent manner with the aim of building social consensus around the complex and challenging decisions required to successfully navigate the climate transition. The PCC’s mandate emanates from the Presidential Jobs Summit held in 2018, and one of the first tasks of the PCC is to understand the impacts of climate change on jobs, both positive and negative. The PCC is committed to ensuring that the transition is socially just and that the needs of vulnerable groups are addressed.
Mandate
The overall objective of the Commission is to provide independent expert advice on South Africa’s climate change response. The Commission must facilitate a common vision for a net-zero and climate resilient economy and society by 2050, and map out detailed pathways to get there. The Commission monitors and reviews progress with emissions reduction and climate adaptation goals, as well as the achievement of a just transition linked to broader development objectives. Amongst others the planning of a just transition includes key areas of work such as energy security, water security, food security, infrastructure resilience (urban, rural and coastal), land-use and the mobilisation of the necessary technological innovation and climate finance.
The Commission is comprised of government Ministers and 22 part-time commissioners drawn from civil society, the science community, business and organized labour. Commissioners are appointed by the President and serve for a period of 5 years. The Commission is chaired by the President, and in his absence, by the Deputy Chair, Mr. Valli Moosa. The Commission meets quarterly, and may establish working committees to consider and advise it on particular topics.
Secretariat
A full time Secretariat has been appointed to support the work of the Commission. The Secretariat is led by the Executive Director, Dr Crispian Olver. Government departments and social partners have seconded staff and provided logistical support for the Secretariat. The Secretariat provided logistical support for Commission meetings, and commissions research and policy work to support the main functional areas of the Commissions work relating to a just transition, climate mitigation and adaptation, and climate finance.
