South Africa ranks number 14 on the global list of countries that have the largest carbon emitters because of its reliance on coal as a source of electrical energy. Recently, electricity generator
Eskom said a total of 213.2 tons of carbon dioxide were emitted just in the year 2020 alone. President
Cyril Ramaphosa formed the Presidential Climate Commission in September 2020 and its over 40 members - who are representatives from government departments, state entities, business organisations, labour, academia, civil society, research institutions and traditional leadership - were appointed in December 2020 and recruitment of members were ongoing. The decision to establish South Africa's climate change commission was a resolution taken at the Presidential Health Summit held on 19 and 20 October 2018 in
Boksburg,
Gauteng. The commission is tasked with overseeing a
just transition to a low-carbon. The commission meets quarterly to have its ad hoc groups giving reports to Ramaphosa on progress. South Africa aims to align itself with the
Paris Agreement on climate change by moving away from carbon footprint to using cleaner energy sources. ==Members==