South Africa is the one of leading African economies and the one of the major global greenhouse gas emitters. Actively participatingin international climate and energy frameworks, South Africa sets an ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissionsby 2050. The climate agenda is a sphere of crucial importance for South Africa due to explicit systemic vulnerabilitiesof the national economy in the face of expected changes. This article analyzes problems and prospects in achieving SouthAfricaʼs climate policy goals, as well as the availability of resources necessary to achieve these goals.The analysis finds that South Africa does not possess the resources to achieve its climate goals. South Africa remainsdependent on polluting fossil fuels, especially coal, due to enormous available natural deposits. Climate financing coversonly a portion of necessary financial placing. In the long run, established international agreements may aggravate thecountryʼs international debt problem. South Africaʼs leaders recognize the necessity of climate-related policy measures, butsuch measures cannot be characterized as the main drivers of the countryʼs development.

The article was written on the basis of the RANEPA state assignment research program. 

This article was submitted 29.09.2023.