ROLE OF LEGISLATORS IN CLIMATE CHANGE: THE CASE OF SOUTH AFRICA


“History will inevitably show over time that the societies that are prepared for climate change- induced disasters, rather than just responding to them would be held in the highest regard. There is therefore further wisdom in the maxim that ‘there are costs and risks to action, but greater long-term costs to inaction’.”


on several fronts to ensure that this international instrument is effectively implemented in a myriad of legislative approaches, including:


have a critical role to ensure that these interventions are put in place, financed, implemented, monitored and reviewed. In a developmental State like South Africa, we are saying that legislators should not only scrutinise executive action, but should go further to complement


the work of the Executive Branch of Government by offering alternative best practice solutions to problems in the spirit of An Activist Parliament. We were of course in Paris (COP21), as legislators, to support the process of the delivering of a Climate


Agreement under the Convention that is ambitious, durable, fair and effective that balances environmental and development imperatives, inter alia. It is important for us to note that the conclusion of the Paris Agreement meant that our work, as legislators, has just begun


• Ratification: we have to ensure that the Paris/ COP21 Agreement is ratified by enacting a flagship (framework) domestic climate change law to implement its applicable provisions. In South Africa, Parliament spearheading the introduction of a framework Climate Change Bill, which will incorporate all relevant and applicable provisions of the Paris Climate Agreement.


• Reviewing and amending of existing legislation: Parliamentarians can take legislative action on climate change by reviewing existing laws and proposing amendments to them where


The Parliamentarian | 2016: Issue One | 17


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