The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has asserted that it has not conducted any "secret meetings" with business on the review of the country's climate change commitments.

This comes after the department received a request for access to information related to closed-door meetings and other interactions between government officials and private industry representatives relating to South Africa's policy and regulatory approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The application also relates to other interactions on South Africa's energy mix, the Just Transition to a low-carbon economy and any associated infrastructure and resource exploration activities.

The request was received on 25 August 2023 in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No 2 of 2000) for information.

"DFFE will respond to the PAIA application from Just Share and the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism in due course. South Africa concluded its process to develop its national climate change commitments on climate mitigation and adaptation in 2021.

"The process involved rigorous public consultation and the Presidential Climate Commission, a constituency based advisory body, provided valuable advisory inputs that led to the finalisation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)," the department said on Monday.

Through the updated NDC, South Africa has committed to a target range of 420-350 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

"This is consistent with the Paris Agreement limit of a temperature increase well below two degrees Celsius. Since then, there has not been any subsequent discussion to review these targets," the department said.