Abstract
Climate change and global warming impacts are manifesting on a daily basis all over the world. Reports of catastrophic weather events are always being aired in the news, showing huge and massive destruction to property and life. Carbon emissions by both industrialised and non-industrialised countries are the main causes of global warming and climate change. While the developed nations are making frantic efforts through innovations and technologies to adapt to the changes in the climate, the developing countries do not have the capacity to develop such technologies, hence unable to adapt to the changes, leaving them with mitigation options. Against this backdrop, South African Government has put in place various interventions to curb the surge of global climate change. However, it is pertinent to point out that till date, there is no single law passed by the parliament specifically on global climate change. This notwithstanding, in view of the fact that global climate change is caused by emissions of harmful gases to the atmosphere and the environment, South Africa has ample laws controlling and regulating the environment. Therefore, the paper seeks to advance a compelling argument on implementation and enforcement of policy and law on carbon emissions reduction and how the law can be strengthened as part of mitigation strategy. As the issues surrounding global climate change relate and strictly pertain to the environment, the relevant environmental laws that are in place could be used to control and reduce emissions of all sorts and also enforce compliance. One of such pieces of legislation is the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p2709
Highlights
The issues surrounding global climate change and sustainable development are increasingly becoming trans-disciplinary in nature (Najam et al, 2003)
As a discipline plays, and will continue to play a significant role in regulating human activities resulting in emissions of harmful gases to the atmosphere which is causing global climate change through the implementation and enforcement of laws on emissions reduction (Hester and Harrison, 2002)
While research on environmental law and management is well documented in South Africa, the same cannot be said of the implementation and enforcement of carbon emissions using NEMAQ
Summary
The issues surrounding global climate change and sustainable development are increasingly becoming trans-disciplinary in nature (Najam et al, 2003). South Africa has volunteered to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 34% below a business as usual emissions growth by 2020 (business as usual is the baseline which assumes that future development trends follow those of the past and no changes in policies will take place), and a 42% reduction by 2025 (Newmarch 2013). This target is achievable if the country is able to receive appropriate finance, technology and capacity building support from developed countries.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
