Ministry of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism - STATEMENT BY THE OFFICE
OF THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
AND TOURISM, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ON
16 MARCH 2007 - South Africa and the United
Kingdom have today agreed to team up to
tackle key international sustainable development
issues including climate change.
The South African Minister for Environmental
Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk,
and UK Environment Secretary, David Milliband,
released a joint statement establishing
the South Africa-UK High-Level Dialogue
on Sustainable Development including a Working
Group on Climate Change.
The Dialogue is designed to strengthen
bilateral ties in a broad range of policy
areas and provide leadership on sustainable
development. It also aims to provide a framework
for cross-Government collaboration on both
sides and for contacts between stakeholders
in each country.
The talks, which took pace in Potsdam in
the margins of the G8 Environment Ministers
meeting, will lead to cooperation on a range
of sustainable development issues, including
climate change, environmental enforcement
and mainstreaming sustainable development.
Minister Van Schalkwyk said: “South Africa
and the UK will use this joint working programme
as a platform for practical cooperation
in order to advance our sustainable development
and climate change policies and actions.
The challenges are immense and this partnership
will assist us to find and implement solutions.
We are determined to use this platform to
address sustainable development in all three
of its dimensions: ecological, economic
and social. A high-level dialogue on sustainable
development is in our national interest
and will contribute to the achievement of
ASGISA objectives.”
The working group on climate change will
formulate a full programme including work
on the adaptation and impacts; it has already
agreed to undertake joint research work
on possible forms of long-term global action
on climate change.
The key themes in the SA-UK Sustainable
Dialogue are:
Climate Change and energy for sustainable
development
Sustainable consumption and production
Environmental enforcement
Mainstreaming sustainable development
Under the mainstreaming sustainable development
theme, both governments may look at collaboration
on natural resource protection and sustainable
management, sustainable communities and
engaging the private sector and financial
institutions.
The full text of the joint statement follows:
1. This Joint Statement outlines the intent
of the two Governments to give concrete
effect to the objectives related to sustainable
development contained in the Memorandum
of Understanding signed between the Republic
of South Africa and the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1995.
2. THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(WSSD) (2002) AND THE MILLENNIUM SUMMIT
(2000) OUTLINED THE KEY CHALLENGES FACING
HUMAN SOCIETIES AND SET AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA
FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN THE 21ST
CENTURY.
3. In an increasingly interdependent world,
achieving progress on the WSSD’s Programme
of Implementation and the Millennium Development
Goals will require leadership by governments
and co-operation at multiple levels.
4. Sustainable development provides a conceptual
framework within which nations can make
informed and balanced choices to achieve
economic growth, combat environmental degradation
and make social progress at the same time.
It also provides a sound basis for securing
peace and stability.
5. At the national level, both the Republic
of South Africa’s National Framework for
Sustainable Development and the UK’s Sustainable
Development Strategy seek to ensure that
the environmental and social dimensions
of development are integrated into national
policies in order to meet both national
aspirations and our international commitments.
6. The challenges are global. Co-operation
and shared learning is needed between countries
and entities if we are to meet them.
7. South Africa and the UK have much to
gain from collaboration in this field and
both countries are committed to deepening
our partnership on sustainable development
and related issues. The two countries hereby
launch the UK-South Africa High-level Dialogue
on Sustainable Development on the date of
the signature thereof.
8. This Dialogue is designed to strengthen
bilateral ties across a range of policy
areas and to provide leadership on sustainable
development. There is an intention in both
countries for an approach to addressing
common challenges that will create new opportunities
and mutual benefits.
9. The overall direction of the dialogue
will be set through Ministerial meetings
and we will endeavour to alternate the venue
of these meetings between the UK and South
Africa.
10. This Ministerial-level dialogue will
guide joint initiatives on the themes which
reflect ongoing debates and concerns in
both countries. The aim of this work will
be to share experiences and help deliver
mutually beneficial solutions facilitated
through the Dialogue, official exchanges,
research, projects and partnerships.
From the UK, it may include representatives
from the:
a. Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs;
b. Department of Trade and Industry;
c. Department for International Development;
d. Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
e. Office of Science and Innovation in the
United Kingdom,
From South Africa it may include representatives
from the:
a. Department of Foreign Affairs;
b. Department of Environmental Affairs And
Tourism;
c. Department of Agriculture;
d. Department of Land Affairs;
e. Department of Minerals and Energy;
f. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry;
and
g. Department of Science and Technology.
Further, it may include representatives
from:
a. Academia, NGOs and other civil society
groups.
b. Business, industry and the scientific
community.
11. Furthermore, we aim to stimulate multi-stakeholder
engagement in both countries to make for
a richer Dialogue, as well as bring additional
expertise and momentum for follow-up actions
as relevant.
12. The following is a list of themes common
to both the UK Sustainable Development Strategy
and South African National Framework for
Sustainable Development which forms the
framework for cooperation under the Sustainable
Development Dialogue:
a. Climate change and energy for sustainable
development;
b. Environmental enforcement;
c. Mainstreaming sustainable development
and governance challenges; and
d. Sustainable consumption and production.
13. Under the “mainstreaming sustainable
development” theme, the following sub-themes
may be further elaborated:
a. Natural resource protection and sustainable
management;
b. Sustainable communities (Urbanisation);
and
c. Private sector & financial institutions.
14. The detailed outline of management
mechanisms, the agreed initiatives, official
exchanges, research, projects and partnerships
for each of the above themes will be appended
to this statement as Annexes when fully
elaborated. Ministers may agree to amend
this list of themes as they see fit.
RIAAN AUCAMP
TOXIC RED TIDE ALERT FOR WEST COAST
The Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism would like to alert the public
not to eat any shellfish or lobster liver
on the West Coast after a report was received
of three people who became ill after eating
shellfish collected in Lamberts Bay, along
the West Coast. The department is investigating
and samples are being tested at the moment.
Animals such as lobsters, that feed on
toxic shellfish can accumulate the toxins
in their digestive gland with no apparent
effect but will accumulate toxins in their
liver. Members of the public are therefore
advised not to eat lobster liver too.
The reported incident appears to display
symptoms of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
(PSP). Typical PSP symptoms include tingling
and numbness of the mouth, lips and fingers
which usually occur within the first 30
minutes after indigestion of toxic shellfish.
Advanced symptoms include dizziness, incoherent
speech, non co-ordination of limbs with
slight difficulty in breathing and a rapid
pulse. In severe cases it can cause paralysis.
Anyone suspecting that they may have been
poisoned should consult a doctor immediately.
Departmental officials are monitoring the
situation closely.
The non-toxic red tide persists along False
Bay.
The Department has a Red Tide Information
answering machine number which is 021 434
4457. Members of the public could call this
number to get the latest updated status
of the red tide.
Issued by Blessing Manale, Chief Director:
Communications (Acting)
Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism
Visit our website: www.deat.gov.za
+ More
Minister Spells Out SA’s “Climate Roadmap”
for 2007 and Beyond
14 March 2007 - Media Statement - REMARKS
TO THE MEDIA BY MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK,
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM,
DURING SIR NICHOLAS STERN’S VISIT TO SOUTH
AFRICA, TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, WEDNESDAY
14 MARCH 2007
WEDNESDAY, 14 MARCH 2007: Comments on Stern
Review on the Economics of Climate Change
The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate
Change takes the climate debate to the next
level, especially by considering sensible
policy responses, and very importantly,
what is equitable for future generations.
The economic case to act now has been made
strongly through this pragmatic approach.
The costs of doing nothing about climate
change far outweigh those of taking concrete
measures as individuals, nations and the
global community.
South Africa stands ready to take on its
share of these challenges as a developmental
investment in future generations. This work
on the economics of climate change reinforces
our vision of avoiding an unsafe climate
future and inadequate adaptive responses.
When the Kyoto protocol was first crafted,
it was seen as a critical first step in
our effort to combat climate change. Today
we understand that the current Kyoto regime
is not nearly enough to address the problem,
and the scientific certainty is now much
better defined. We live on a continent that
is particularly vulnerable to the impacts
of climate change, even at the lower end
of the predicted range of possible climate
changes. For this reason, we are ever mindful
of the costs of inaction.
In considering a more effective climate
policy regime beyond 2012 (end of the Kyoto
Protocol’s first commitment period) we understand
that we all have to do much more. Though
countries have different responsibilities,
we all - developed as well as developing
- have a common responsibility to act in
accordance with our national capabilities.
In South Africa, we are looking at ways
of making climate change mitigation policies
and measures part of a pro-development and
growth strategy for the longer term. We
understand the key message of the Stern
Review: the earlier effective action is
taken, the less costly it will be in the
long run.
Rather than viewing action on climate change
as a burden, the message is that action
on climate change also holds myriad opportunities
for new investment in climate friendly technologies,
creating access to cleaner energy for development
and building new competitive advantages
in clean and renewable technologies.
South Africa’s “Roadmap” for Climate Policy
We realise that climate policy alone cannot
solve the climate problem. Making our development
path more sustainable is crucial for both
mitigation and adaptation. Increasingly,
climate change is being discussed across
different Ministries and departments. We
have established an Inter-Ministerial Committee
on climate change which meets regularly
to consider the latest available information
and to align government’s planning accordingly.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee also oversees
the Long Term Mitigation Scenario process,
which is making excellent progress in support
of the government’s efforts.
This project, involving more than 20 leading
specialists and stakeholders in government,
business and civil society, is examining
the cost and impacts of different pathways
for reducing or limiting the growth in national
greenhouse gas emissions. Since June 2006,
they have worked to develop alternative
scenarios, including macro-economic modelling
of the costs and opportunities of taking
action within our unique national circumstances.
The outcomes of the scenario process will
shape our long term climate policy and guide
future investment in energy, transport,
water and eco-tourism infrastructure amongst
others. Once completed, we will be convening
a high-level roundtable of government, civil
society and captains of industry to consider
our national response to the outcomes of
the Long Term Mitigation Scenario planning
process and its underlying macro-economic
modelling. It will be important that all
stakeholders understand and are focused
on the range of ambitious but realistic
pathways of future climate action being
generated by this groundbreaking project.
Leading researchers from South Africa are
also playing a major role in finalising
the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC
(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
We will be convening a special report-back
seminar with our IPCC authors to analyse
the regional and national implications of
the IPCC reports. These reports will help
us to understand better the inevitable adverse
impacts of climate change, our own vulnerabilities
and possible adaptation strategies.
In addition, various national departments
are putting in place the building blocks
for our long term climate policy. Various
departments have made major progress in
refining their sector plans in line with
the National Climate Change Response Strategy.
- The Department of Science and Technology
will finalise our Climate Change Technology
Needs Assessment as well as our national
climate change Research and Development
Strategy in the next few months. DST has
also just established the SA National Energy
Research Institute in partnership with the
Department of Minerals and Energy.
- The Department of Minerals and Energy
is making strong headway in implementing
the national Energy Efficiency Accord. They
are also establishing the National Energy
Efficiency Agency, based on the Energy Bill,
and will finalise our Integrated Energy
Plan later this year.
- The DME, through the inter-departmental
steering committee, has seen an increase
in a number of Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM) projects being submitted to the CDM
Executive Board for approval.
- DME is collaborating with the Department
of Science and Technology to launch a solar
heating project for low and middle income
households.
- The South African Earth Observation Strategy
(SAEOS) was approved by Cabinet in 2006,
and provides a framework for the coordination
of activities in this sphere. It is linked
to the Global Earth Observing System of
Systems (GEOSS), which is a comprehensive
national and international cooperative effort.
- The Department of Agriculture has just
developed their climate change response
plan.
- DWAF and the Water Research Commission
are involved in a number of research projects
looking at the impacts of climate change
on water resources.
- Working closely with industry, DEAT will
also be finalising our updated Greenhouse
Gas Inventory early next year.
Various provinces and cities are also up-scaling
their efforts to combat climate change.
The Western Cape will be taking its climate
change planning to the next level during
a provincial climate change conference in
June this year, and various cities have
made major strides in integrating climate
considerations with their local development
planning frameworks.
Ultimately, the results of the Long Term
Mitigation Scenario process, the sector
strategies from different government departments,
provincial and local authorities, and our
interaction with the best available science,
will collectively inform our first ever
Long Term National Climate Policy.
This is Government’s Climate Change “Roadmap”
for 2007 and beyond. We are geared for the
emerging challenges and will continue to
work with all stakeholders in refining our
policies and action plans.
Blessing Manale (Acting Chief Director:
Comunications)
Riaan Aucamp (Minister's Spokesperson)
