Photo: Government Communication and Information System
The appointments, made in terms of the Climate Change Act (No. 22 of 2024), were welcomed by PCC Executive Director Dorah Modise who, according to a PCC media statement, said the new commission brought together diverse leadership capable of guiding South Africa’s transition to a low-emissions, climate-resilient economy.
Established in 2020, the PCC is an independent, statutory, multistakeholder body tasked with advising government on climate change response measures and the country’s “just transition” pathways. Its mandate includes building social partnerships around climate action, conducting independent analysis on the impacts of climate change on jobs and the economy, and monitoring progress towards mitigation and adaptation goals.
Modise said the credibility and convening power of the PCC is dependent on broad societal participation.
“As we undertake this renewed mandate, we remain cognisant that PCC integrity depends on the continued engagement of diverse sectors of our society in shaping climate and development policy,” she said in the statement.
For agriculture and agribusiness, the PCC’s work is becoming more relevant. Climate variability, rising input costs linked to energy transitions, and the need for climate-resilient production systems are increasingly shaping farm-level decisions.
The commission’s focus on sectoral shifts, technological innovation, and climate finance is expected to influence how support mechanisms for farmers and rural communities evolve over the next decade.
Dr Crispian Olver, current deputy chairperson of the commission, previously served as executive director of the PCC Secretariat and played a central role in shaping South Africa’s environmental and climate policy while director-general of the former Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. His background spans governance, community development, and public policy, underpinned by academic work and authorship on urban governance.
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Blessing Manale, PCC executive for communications and outreach, said Olver will not return as deputy chairperson for the full term to 2030. Instead, his tenure will be extended as a transitional measure for up to three months.
Ramaphosa, as PCC chairperson, will announce the new deputy at the commission’s first 2026 meeting and outline its priorities through to 2030.
In total, 25 commissioners were appointed, representing business, labour, civil society, academia, youth, traditional leadership, and local government. They include Catherine Constantinides, climate activist; Prof Imraan Valodia, economist; Dr Phindile Masangane, energy strategist; and Prof Tracy-Lynn Field, climate justice advocate.
Thandile Zonke, one of the newly appointed commissioners, brings a youth and gender-focused climate justice perspective. A Canon Collins scholar, she works at the intersection of climate justice, energy, and gender transformation, with experience in translating complex policy issues into community-driven solutions.
In the press release, Ramaphosa thanked the outgoing commissioners for their role in shaping domestic climate policy and strengthening South Africa’s climate diplomacy. He also called on the new members to provide independent, evidence-based advice while facilitating inclusive dialogue around the country’s complex climate and development challenges.
Full profiles of the new commissioners are available on the PCC’s website.
