Capacity Building on South Africa’s 2035 NDC Targets: Business Workshop

As a signatory to the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), South Africa remained committed to submitting updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)targets every five years. With the next update set for discussion at COP30 in 2025, it was essential that the country’s 2035 targets reflected both meaningful climate action and a balance between adaptation and mitigation efforts.

To support this process, the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) hosted a series of Capacity Building Workshopsaimed at strengthening the capacity of key social partners—Business, Civil Society, Government, Organised Labour, Faith Movements, and Youth. These workshops helped raise awareness and deepen understanding of the economic benefits of a climate-compatible transition, fostering informed participation in shaping South Africa’s updated NDCs.

The workshops explored the role of the NDCs in driving sustainable economic growth and reducing climate risk, and provided a platform for stakeholders to understand how they could contribute to ensuring a just and credible transitionfor the country.

Key Objectives Achieved:

• Enhanced understanding of South Africa’s updated NDC process and its 2035 implications
• Increased awareness of the economic opportunities in climate-compatible transitions
• Equipped social partners with the knowledge needed for meaningful engagement in the NDC development process

This workshop series formed part of the PCC’s broader commitment to inclusive stakeholder engagement and building national consensus on South Africa’s climate future.