Juba to host national workshop to develop Carbon Market Framework
Citizens have been advised to take responsibility on conservation of the environment as it is not only the work of the government alone, even as capital hosts key event
By Anak Dut
South Sudan is intensifying efforts to reduce carbon emissions and benefit from global carbon markets, aligning with its commitments under the Paris Agreement and its Nationally Determined Contributions.
Following ratification in 2021 by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in collaboration with UNDP, the Nationally Determined Contributions aim to cut nearly 110 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 while sequestering an additional 45 million tonnes. Achieving these goals is estimated to cost around USD 100 billion, largely expected from international investment.
Speaking ahead of the national workshop, officials from the Ministry of Environment stressed the importance of the Carbon Market Framework in mobilizing climate finance.
The framework is expected to attract private sector participation and ensure South Sudan benefits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which allows countries to cooperate through carbon markets and non-market mechanisms to meet climate targets.
The draft framework, to be presented at the workshop, is built on four pillars of a policy framework, legal and regulatory structures, institutional governance and clear implementation processes that will guide the identification, approval, monitoring and reporting of carbon market activities while ensuring alignment with national development priorities.
The workshop’s key objectives include enhancing stakeholder participation, tailoring the framework to local socio-economic realities, ensuring credibility through robust methodologies, building technical understanding of Article 6 operations, and identifying institutional arrangements for implementation.
In an exclusive interview with The City Review, Makur Majeng, founder of Save the Nile highlighted the responsibility of high-emission countries to support local and community-led projects that help vulnerable populations adapt to climate change.
“The funding that will come through this consultation will be channeled directly to the environment, particularly for initiatives addressing waste management and conservation,” he said.
Makur also warned against the burning of plastics and fossil fuels, noting that carbon market funding can support safe disposal and collection efforts while emphasizing the need for local engagement and inclusivity.
“Being left out of such consultation workshops is risky because solutions may not reflect rural realities,” he noted.
He called on the citizens to take responsibility on the conservation of the environment as it is not only the work of the government alone. “Start by yourself. Not everything is the responsibility of government. For example, in Juba, people buy bottled water, drink it, and throw the bottle on the street. Proper disposal matters,” he said.
Hon. Africano Bartel Joseph, Undersecretary for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, summarized the initiative saying, “South Sudan is turning climate action into opportunities for households and communities to earn income, protect their health and conserve our forests with proper frameworks and inclusive participation. The carbon market can unlock billions in green investment and support our transition from a least developed to a middle-income economy by 2030.”
Bartel added that a central component of the initiative is promoting fuel efficient cooking stoves, which is a traditional three stone stoves that consumes large amounts of charcoal and wood, limiting smoke harmful to health and the environment.
“The new stoves retain heat, require less fuel and can reduce emissions by about one ton of carbon per year. Accredited households can earn carbon credits worth up to €20 per ton, turning cleaner cooking into a source of income. More than 1,000 stoves have already been introduced in Juba by local NGOs, with plans for nationwide expansion,” he said.
