Dr. Dion George, South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, has officially released the nation’s 9th National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Report. The report, published in Gazette Number: 52067 on February 7, 2025, provides detailed data on the country’s GHG emissions from 2000 to 2022. This comprehensive inventory is a vital resource for South Africa’s climate policy and will contribute to the country’s First Biennial Transparency Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The report offers gas-by-gas estimates of anthropogenic emissions for carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), broken down by sources and removals by sinks. The 9th NIR adheres to UNFCCC guidelines, ensuring accuracy and consistency in emissions reporting.
South Africa’s commitment to climate action dates back to 1997, when the country ratified the UNFCCC. This commitment mandates regular GHG reporting as part of the global effort to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and mitigate climate change. The new inventory report is a cornerstone of South Africa’s pledge to combat climate change and promote sustainability.
The National Greenhouse Gas Inventory plays a critical role in shaping policies for a low-carbon economy and climate-resilient society, in line with the National Development Plan (Vision 2030) and the National Climate Change Response Policy (2011). This policy, approved in October 2011, focuses on building social, economic, and environmental resilience while enhancing emergency response capacity to climate-related risks.
The full 9th National GHG Inventory Report is available online, providing a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and the public. The report marks another significant milestone in South Africa’s ongoing efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable development.
