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South Africa long-term mitigation scenarios

9am, July 21st, 2015

This document, South Africa long-term mitigation scenarios, attempts to answer two fundamental questions: Why should South Africa be concerned with the mitigation of greenhouse gases? and What options for mitigation are available, how much can each option reduce emissions, and at what cost?

In March 2006, the South African cabinet commissioned a process to examine the potential for mitigation of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. The process was to be informed by the best available information. The aim was to produce Long Term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS) that would provide a sound scientific analysis from which cabinet could draw up a long-term climate policy. Such a policy would give South African negotiators under the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) clear and mandated positions for their negotiations. It would also ensure that South African stakeholders understood and committed to a range of realistic strategies for future climate action.

The first phase of this study has now been completed. A scenario building team, comprised of strategic thinkers from government, business and civil society, working with four research teams, has produced this scenario document, backed up by a technical summary, which is in turn underpinned by detailed technical research.

The focus of this document is mitigation: if South Africa takes the decision to mitigate, then this document addresses how to determine the options, the emissions reductions achieved by these options, and the attendant costs of each option.

Read the report: South Africa long term mitigation scenarios.

Institutions Involved

  • Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism South Africa
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