SA Won’t Be ‘Short-changed’ In Climate Finance Talks, Ramaphosa Insists

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa says that government will not allow itself to be “short-changed” or lumped with conditions that will undermine its developmental objectives when negotiating the details of an $8.5-billion climate-finance package with developed countries over the coming months.

Responding to questions in Parliament on the issue, including one posed by Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, Ramaphosa said that South Africa’s negotiating stance would be premised on ensuring that the eventual transaction took account of South Africa’s social and economic challenges, while affirming “our right to develop our economy in a sustainable and inclusive manner”.

South Africa signed a political declaration with France, Germany, the UK, the US and the European Union on the sidelines of COP26 in early November, opening the way for a financing facility to support South Africa’s ‘just transition’ from coal over a three- to five-year period.

The declaration made provision for the establishment