National Assembly adopts Carbon Tax Bill, despite DA push-back
The deputy finance minister said that unless SA tackles climate change it will not be able to reach its developmental objectives
The National Assembly adopted the Carbon Tax Bill on Tuesday, despite opposition from the DA. The bill will now be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence. The tax is due to take effect from June 1. Concluding the debate on the bill, deputy finance minister Mondli Gungubele said that unless SA tackles climate change it will not be able to reach its developmental objectives. “Climate change poses the greatest threat to humankind and SA intends to play its role as part of the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to meet its commitments under the Paris agreement,” Gungubele said. In terms of these commitments, SA’s emissions are expected to peak between 2020 and 2025, plateau between 2025 and 2035, and decline thereafter. Gungubele noted that the Carbon Tax Bill gives effect to the polluter-pays principle and will ensure that the cost of damage caused by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, are included in the price of high carbon-emit...
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