South Africa has taken a further step in strengthening climate governance and long-term policy certainty with the appointment of a new cohort of Commissioners to the Presidential Climate Commission, tasked with guiding the country’s climate response and just transition over the next five years.
The appointments, confirmed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, reconstitute the Commission following the conclusion of the previous term on 31 December 2025. The newly appointed Commissioners will serve from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030, in line with the Climate Change Act, 2024, which formalises the Commission’s role as a statutory advisory body.
The Presidential Climate Commission was established in 2020 to provide independent, multi-stakeholder advice on South Africa’s climate change response, including pathways to a low-emissions, climate-resilient economy that supports social justice, economic inclusion and sustainable development. Its mandate spans climate policy, just transition planning, and the alignment of climate action with economic and social priorities.
Executive Director of the Commission, Ms Dorah Modise, said the appointments reflect a deliberate effort to ensure continuity, credibility and broad societal representation in shaping South Africa’s climate and development agenda. She noted that the diversity of expertise and lived experience among the Commissioners strengthens the Commission’s ability to convene stakeholders across labour, business, academia, civil society, local government and traditional leadership.
According to Modise, the Commission’s effectiveness depends on its integrity and its ability to bring together different sectors of society to engage constructively on climate risks, opportunities and trade-offs. She said the renewed mandate reinforces the Commission’s commitment to a just transition that supports workers, communities and vulnerable groups while advancing climate action.
The newly appointed Commissioners include experts and leaders from environmental science, economics, governance, social justice, finance, community development and policy. The appointments are intended to ensure that climate decision-making remains informed by evidence, grounded in social realities and aligned with South Africa’s development needs.
The Commission will continue to advise government on climate mitigation and adaptation measures, the social and economic dimensions of the energy transition, and strategies to build resilience in the face of increasing climate impacts. Its work is expected to play a central role in shaping policy coherence across departments and supporting South Africa’s international climate commitments.
Modise said the Commission remains focused on building partnerships across society to advance climate solutions that are inclusive and equitable. She emphasised that a successful transition requires collaboration between government, the private sector, labour, communities and civil society, with shared responsibility for ensuring that no one is left behind.
Full profiles of the newly appointed Commissioners will be made available on the Presidential Climate Commission’s website as the Commission begins its new term of working.
