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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the country’s Climate Change Act into law.

The Act outlines the government’s climate change response plans and the country’s contribution to the global climate change response.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the new law aligns policies for South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy without contradictions.

“The law also sets out to enhance South Africa’s ability and capacity over time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resilience while reducing the risk of job losses and promoting opportunities for new job opportunities in the emerging green economy.

“The act has the aim of strengthening coordination between national sector departments and providing policy setting and decision-making to enable South Africa to meet the commitments in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement,” he said.

Magwenya noted that the mitigation measures address climate change impacts across sectors, including water, agriculture, energy, health, and disaster management.

“These impacts will disproportionately affect poor communities and vulnerable groups and could affect South Africa’s ability to meet its development and economic growth goals, including job creation and poverty reduction.”

The law also stipulates the role provinces and municipalities will play in mitigation efforts.