1

South Africa

ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME

USD5M

The Accelerator provides dedicated support to advance implementation across South Africa’s priority super pollutant areas.

ONGOING CCAC PORTFOLIO

1 PROJECT

South Africa currently has one CCAC-supported project.

ACCELERATOR OPPORTUNITIES

5 AREAS

Upcoming Accelerator opportunities will support action across five priority areas.

At A glance

South Africa was selected as part of the inaugural cohort of the CCAC Super Pollutant Country Action Accelerator in 2025, reflecting the country’s growing leadership on integrated climate and clean air action. Anchored within the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the Accelerator supports a dedicated in-government team to strengthen implementation, coordination, and finance mobilization for methane, black carbon, and air pollution mitigation across key sectors. 

Building on South Africa’s strong policy and institutional frameworks — including the National Waste Management Strategy, National Air Quality Management Framework, Just Energy Transition priorities, and advanced emissions reporting systems — the Accelerator helps translate existing climate and clean air commitments into large-scale implementation. Priority areas include waste methane mitigation and circular economy scale-up, cleaner transport and fuels, industrial emissions reduction, strengthened MRV systems, and enhanced coordination between national and subnational actors. 

trajectory
What the Accelerator will achieve

The Accelerator supports South Africa in advancing several mutually reinforcing outcomes: 

1. Establishing a dedicated Super Pollutant Unit

A dedicated, government-embedded team will coordinate South Africa's super pollutant agenda across climate, air quality, energy, transport, waste, and agriculture. The Unit will strengthen cross-government collaboration, accelerate implementation, and mobilize technical and financial support. 

2. Strengthening national super pollutant planning

Support the development and implementation of an integrated national Super Pollutant Action Plan that aligns climate, air quality, and development priorities while strengthening South Africa's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), air quality policies, and sectoral strategies. 

3. Enhancing MRV systems

Strengthen monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems for methane, black carbon, HFCs, and tropospheric ozone precursors by improving emissions inventories, data integration, modelling, and decision-support tools to better track progress and inform policy. 

4. Reducing methane from waste

Accelerate methane mitigation from the waste sector through improved organic waste diversion, landfill methane capture and utilization, wastewater management, circular economy solutions, and preparation of investment-ready projects for municipalities. 

5. Reducing methane from agriculture and livestock

Support the development and deployment of practical methane mitigation measures across livestock and agricultural systems, including improved manure management, enteric methane reduction, and other climate-smart agricultural practices while maintaining productivity and supporting rural livelihoods. 

6. Delivering cleaner air through transport, industry and black carbon reduction

Advance implementation of cleaner fuels and vehicle standards, strengthen industrial emissions management, reduce black carbon emissions from key sectors, and support the delivery of South Africa's National Air Quality Policy to improve public health and environmental outcomes. 

7. Mobilizing finance for super pollutant mitigation

Develop investment pipelines, bankable projects, and financing strategies that unlock domestic and international investment for methane reduction, clean air initiatives, and broader super pollutant mitigation, leveraging both public and private finance. 

team on the ground

The Super Pollutant Team is anchored within the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), which provides the main government platform for Accelerator implementation. The team strengthens coordination, delivery capacity and finance mobilization for super pollutant mitigation across climate change, air quality, chemicals and waste, transport, and related workstreams. 

01

SENIOR STRATEGIC AND POLITICAL LEAD

Provides strategic oversight, high-level coordination, and representation of South Africa in CCAC and international forums.

02

CLIMATE AND CLEAN AIR FINANCE & RESOURCE MOBILISATION LEAD

Leads resource mobilization, donor engagement, investment-ready project development, and alignment with South Africa’s climate finance architecture.

03

PROGRAMME COORDINATION AND GOVERNANCE LEAD

Coordinates collaboration across ministries and agencies and ensures alignment with national climate, air quality, and super pollutant frameworks.

04

TECHNICAL SPECIALISTS

Provide technical leadership on methane, black carbon, HFCs, air quality, waste, transport, cooling, and implementation of mitigation actions.

05

MRV AND DATA SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS

Strengthen national MRV systems and integrate SLCP data into SAAELIP, NAEIS, and SAAQIS for tracking and reporting purposes.

Key programmes and policies 

South Africa has established a strong policy foundation for climate action and air quality management, supported by ambitious climate commitments and well-developed institutional frameworks. As one of Africa's largest economies and greenhouse gas emitters, South Africa has a significant opportunity to deliver rapid climate, health, and economic benefits by accelerating action on methane, black carbon, HFCs, and other super pollutants. 

National action is guided by key strategic frameworks including the Climate Change Act, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), National Air Quality Management Framework, National Waste Management Strategy, and Green Transport Strategy. 

Pillar I — Establishing a National Super Pollutant Unit

Support the establishment of a dedicated Super Pollutant Unit embedded within government to coordinate policy development, implementation, and resource mobilization across priority sectors. 

Key areas of focus: 

  • cross-government coordination;  

  • national super pollutant planning;  

  • technical and policy advisory support;  

  • implementation coordination;  

  • stakeholder engagement and partnerships.  

Pillar II — Methane Reduction from Waste

Support South Africa in reducing methane emissions from municipal solid waste and wastewater while advancing circular economy solutions and preparing investment-ready projects. 

Key areas of focus: 

  • organic waste diversion;  

  • landfill methane capture and utilization;  

  • wastewater methane management;  

  • circular economy approaches;  

  • municipal methane mitigation projects.  

 

Pillar III — Cleaner Transport, Industry and Black Carbon Reduction

Support implementation of measures that reduce black carbon and other air pollutants from transport and industrial sources while improving air quality and public health. 

Key areas of focus: 

  • cleaner fuels and vehicle standards;  

  • inspection and maintenance programmes;  

  • industrial emissions management;  

  • black carbon reduction measures;  

  • integrated air quality planning.

Pillar IV — National MRV System for Super Pollutants

Strengthen national systems to monitor, report, and verify methane, black carbon, HFCs, and other super pollutants to support evidence-based decision-making and international reporting obligations. 

Key areas of focus: 

  • emissions inventories;  

  • digital MRV systems;  

  • sectoral monitoring methodologies;  

  • emissions modelling and forecasting;  

  • integration into national transparency frameworks.  

Pillar V — Financing Super Pollutant Mitigation

Develop investment pipelines and financing mechanisms that mobilize domestic and international resources for super pollutant mitigation across priority sectors. 

Key areas of focus: 

  • investment pipeline development;  

  • bankable project preparation;  

  • donor and development partner engagement;  

  • innovative financing mechanisms;  

  • public and private finance mobilization. 

 

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PRETORIA OFFICE   
Environment House,    
Cnr. Steve Biko (previously Beatrix Street) and Soutpansberg Road,    
473 Steve Biko,    
Arcadia,    
Pretoria, 0083    
South Africa

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