The EU and South Africa have been strategic partners since 2007 and adopted an action plan for the partnership in the same year.
The EU-SA formal dialogue Forum on Environment, Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Water was established in 2007 and then re-launched in 2016. Both parties discuss cooperation areas including just transition, long-term climate strategies, circular economy, biodiversity economy, water and adaptation.
South Africa updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in September 2021.
Examples of joint projects
- Urban Low Emission Strategies (Urban-LEDs II) addresses integrated low emission and resilient development in cities in eight countries, including South Africa.
- SWITCH Africa Green supports stakeholders in Africa in achieving sustainable development by transitioning to an inclusive green economy based on sustainable consumption and production. The programme operates in a couple of African countries, including South Africa.
- Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings and Infrastructure Programme (EEPBIP) within NAMA Facility supports a national energy efficiency programme, which stimulates the energy efficiency market and draws in other national funding in the medium-term.