15/02/2005 : “The coming
into force tomorrow of the Kyoto Protocol
is a major stride forwards in the fight against
global climate change and global warming.”
These were the words of the Minister of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
Speaking in Cape Town on Tuesday the Minister
pointed to the global challenges facing especially
the developing world in this regard.
“Though the protocol does not bind the developing
world on the reduction of gas emissions, the
challenge for South Africa in particular in
the coming decades will be to diversify our
energy dependence - developing alternative
renewable and non-carbon based sources of
energy,” said the Minister.
Expressing the growing concern within Government
about the effects of global climate change
the Minister added: “Predictive modelling
shows that over the next few decades, apart
from moderate rises in global temperatures,
there is likely to be a significant increase
in the number of extreme weather events experienced
by countries like South Africa - such as droughts,
floods, increased incidents of malaria cases,
and changes in rainfall patterns, resulting
in reduced rainfall especially in the western
parts of our country. These effects will impact
negatively on our agricultural resources and
biodiversity, especially in vulnerable regions
like the Cape Floristic Kingdom,which is unique
to South Africa.”.
He called on South Africans from all walks
of life to work with Government in programmes
to increase energy efficiency, reduce waste,
and lessen the effects of climate change -
hailing the programme to save the fynbos in
the Cape Floristic Kingdom as a good example
of efforts in this regard.
The Minister also noted with concern that
the world's biggest emitter of Greenhouse
gasses, the United States, has still not ratified
the Kyoto Protocol. The Minister said: “We
will do our part in the developing world,
but one of the global challenges will be to
encourage countries like the USA and Australia
to ratify the protocol or at the very least
to remain committed to the multi-lateral international
process to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions.”
Issued by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism
