Launch of National Environment
Month by DEAT Dep Minister in Ficksburg
2nd June '08
29 May 2008 - Media
Alert
Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism
THURSDAY, 27 MAY 2008 Media Alert For the
Launch of National Environment Month and
Clean-Up Campaigns in Setsoto Municipality
(Ficksburg) and Mantsopa Municipality (Ladybrand)
on the 2nd June 2008.
Dept of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism will be celebrating
June as Environment Month as part of the
World Environment Day (WED), commemorated
each year on 5th June. This is one of the
principal vehicles through which the United
Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of
environment and enhances political attention
and action.
The Deputy Minister
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms
Rejoice Mabudafhasi, will launch the National
Environment Month in Mapenyadira Community
Hall, Meqheleng, Ficksburg, Free State on
2nd June. The program starts at 09h00. Free
State MEC of Economic, Environmental Affairs
and Tourism Mr. Neo Masithela, Executive
Mayors and Mayors will also attend the launch.
The launch will be followed by Clean Up
Campaigns in Ficksburg and Ladybrand.
The World Environment
Month aims to achieve the objectives of
increasing the level of public awareness
regarding climate change in particular and
environment and tourism issues in general,
create awareness around the challenges posed
by climate change and encourage action by
the public to minimize projected risks and
to reinforce government’s Climate Change
Roadmap, showcase the key intervention measures
undertaken in the country to lessen the
effects of climate change on both society
and environment, challenge communities and
businesses to reduce their carbon footprints
and raise awareness of climate change among
the business communities and elicit support
of business in alleviation of climate change
effects.
Climate change is a
cross cutting issue including waste, food
security, clean water, energy supply, environmental
health, human settlements, etc. 2008 World
Environment Month will concentrate on environmental
challenges that our country continue to
grapple with which are: waste management,
climate change, biodiversity, energy efficiency,
greening, air quality and lifestyle adjustments.
The proposed theme for South Africa is “All
Hands on Deck - For a Low Carbon Economy”
The theme expresses
a call to action by all to promote low carbon
economies and redress our carbon footprints.
It emphasizes ownership of action and commitment
to participate in climate change adaptation
by all. The South African National Climate
Change Response Strategy requires effective
coordination amongst the various government
departments and stakeholders that are involved
in, or may be impacted by climate change
to ensure that response measures are properly
directed, acceptable to all and carried
out with a national focus. The theme is
premised on a call to action which promises
an outcome that is within people's control.
It is on the one hand linked to UNEP's theme
on climate change, challenging the people’s
habits and lifestyles
The media is invited
to attend and will be afforded an opportunity
to interview the Deputy Minister and other
dignitaries in attendance. For more information
please contact:
Moses Rannditsheni (Media Liaison Officer
for the Deputy Minister)
African Ministerial Conference on Environment
to Commence on 07 June in Sandton
26 May 2008
Media Statement
Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism
MONDAY, 26 MAY 2008 South Africa will host
the 12th session of the African Ministerial
Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), which
will see Environment Ministers from across
the continent converge at the Sandton Convention
Centre from 07 - 12 June 2008.
At this 12th Session
of AMCEN, South Africa will be assuming
the chair of AMCEN for the next two years.
South Africa’s chairing of the AMCEN will
provide an opportunity to raise the profile
of global environmental issues in Africa
as well as represent Africa at international
environmental meetings.
AMCEN discussions at
the 12th session will focus on the implementation
of the Action Plan for the Environment Initiative
of the NEPAD, developed by UNEP on behalf
of AMCEN.
The 12th session will
also provide a forum for policy dialogue
on Climate Change, financing adaptation
and environmental programmes and projects
as well as international environmental governance.
The purpose for the
policy dialogue on climate change is to
begin a process of discussions and negotiations
that will ensure a strong presence and voice
for African countries at the crucial fifteenth
Conference of Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and
the fifth Meeting of the Parties to the
Kyoto Protocol that will be held in Copenhagen,
Denmark in 2009.
The purpose for the
policy dialogue on “Financing adaptation
and environmental programmes and projects”
is to identify various sources of financing
for adaptation and environmental programmes
in Africa.
Discussions on “International
Environmental Governance and the United
Nations Reforms” will enable the Ministers
to obtain up -to-date information on the
topic; contribute to the current on-going
debate on IEG and the United Nations Reform;
review the options and challenges emerging
from the debates on international governance
and their implications for the sustainable
development of the region; and agree on
how Africa should proceed forward with the
on-going debate.
The official opening
ceremony for AMCEN will take place on Tuesday,
10 June 2008.
One of the major highlights
of this 12th Session of AMCEN will be the
launch of “Africa: Atlas of our changing
environment”. The Atlas is the first major
publication to depict rapid environmental
change in Africa’s countries using satellite
imagery, and is a resource for remedial
action at all levels.
The First Extraordinary
Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the
Convention for Cooperation in the Protection
and Development of the Marine and Coastal
Environment of the West and Central African
Region will also run parallel to AMCEN on
the 9th and 10th of June 2008.
All media is invited
to attend AMCEN:
RSVP:
Judith van der Merwe - (012) 310 3309 /
jvdmerwe@deat.gov.za
Please RSVP as this
will assist with the media accreditation
process.
Background
The African Ministerial Conference on the
Environment (AMCEN) was established in December
1985, following a conference of African
Ministers of environment held in Cairo,
Egypt . Its mandate is to provide advocacy
for environmental protection in Africa;
to ensure that basic human needs are met
adequately and in a sustainable manner;
to ensure that social and economic development
is realized at all levels; and to ensure
that agricultural activities and practices
meet the food security needs of the region.
For further information
on AMCEN access the link below: http://www.unep.org/roa/Amcen/Amcen_Events/12th_Session_AMCEN/index.asp
To schedule media interviews contact:
Roopa Singh
Green Scorpions Embark on Countrywide “Clean
Cement” Campaign
27 May 2008
Media Statement
Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism
TUESDAY, 27 MAY 2008 On Monday, 26 May 2008
the Green Scorpions embarked on the first
of a series of compliance inspections at
various cement manufacturing facilities
across the country. The blitz signals the
start of the “Clean Cement” campaign.
The blitz will see Green
Scorpions (Environmental Management Inspectors)
from the Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism as well as six provinces conduct
inspections. Other role players include
the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
and local municipalities.
The six provinces involved
and the planned inspections include:
Limpopo - PPC inspection
Gauteng (Tshwane) - PPC Hercules Inspection
KwaZulu-Natal (Port Shepstone) - Cipmor
NPC Inspection
Eastern Cape (New Brighton) - PPC Inspection
Western Cape (De Hoek and Riebeeck) - PPC
Inspections
An inspection of the
Lafarge plant in the North West yesterday,
26 May 2008, signalled the start of the
“Clean Cement” campaign.
Green scorpions will
monitor compliance with all environmental
legislations, authorisations and permits
applicable to each site.
The campaign follows
the success of the multi-year national environmental
compliance campaign in the iron and steel
and ferroalloy industry, known as Operation
Ferro.
“The cement industry
has been prioritised in this new environmental
compliance campaign because of the growing
demand for its products. An increase in
construction and development projects in
the country and rapid expansions in the
cement sector means that the industry may
contribute significantly to pollution if
not mitigated and managed properly,” said
Ms Joanne Yawitch, Deputy Director General
for Environmental Quality and Protection
at DEAT.
On 30 April 2008, a
Cement Industry Workshop was held where
representatives from the sector were informed
on what to expect during the compliance
inspections and how to adequately prepare
for it.
“Inspectors will consider
findings of significant non-compliances
to environmental authorisations in a serious
light, and appropriate enforcement action
will follow,” emphasised Yawitch.
She added that other
key industries will soon be subjected to
similar assessments. In addition, to Operation
Ferro, the Department is already leading
a national environmental compliance and
enforcement project in relation to the six
big oil refineries in the country.
The inspections will
occur for the duration of this week.
To schedule media interviews,
contact :
Roopa Singh
G8 Environment Ministers Meeting, Kobe,
Japan, 25 May 2008
Remarks by Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South
African Minister of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism, during the discussion on Climate
Change
Introduction: political context
We have created new momentum in Bali. Now
we must maintain that momentum. There is
a need for leadership post-Bali. We are
looking at the G8 to commit to such leadership;
to give direction to all the concurrent
processes.
The G8 outcome from the Hokkaido Toyako
Summit cannot be weaker than Heiligendamm.
That will be a major setback. The world
is waiting.
In line with the legal obligation in the
Convention for developed countries to take
the lead, we have always maintained that
the signal to strengthen the regime must
come from the North. As developing countries
we are looking at the G8 for leadership.
This is a key ingredient towards building
trust.
In this context, we cannot understand why
some in the developed world would want to
link the levels of ambition in the G8 statement
to what is agreed in the MEM (Major Economies
Meeting) statement. Politically we cannot
accept this linkage.
A linkage between the G8 and MEM statements
cannot be allowed to become a sword over
our heads. As a developing country, we cannot
be forced in this way into diluting the
Convention principles or the fundamental
distinction between developed and developing
countries, which has also been restated
in the Bali Action Plan.
We understand that all countries need to
do more. But any deal on the 'fair use of
the ecological space' will have to be balanced
by a deal on giving all countries a 'fair
chance in the development space'. We need
our partners in the G8 to not only understand
this balance, but to really champion the
developing countries' cause by synchronizing
climate and development imperatives.
What do we expect the G8 statement to do?
The eight major economies of the world should
provide leadership. If they do so, they
will be surprised by the goodwill, trust
and action that it will unlock in the developing
world.
The potential contribution of the G8 process
is far-reaching. It provides an opportunity
for the eight major economies of the world
to identify and formulate concrete, high
leverage actions that advance their real
and meaningful contribution to addressing
climate change in all its dimensions.
What do we expect from leadership from the
North?
1. Shared vision/long term goal
A shared vision must be more than only a
number; more than only a long term goal.
A shared vision has two key elements: firstly,
the stabilisation of our climate, and secondly,
to achieve this stabilisation while enabling
sustainable development. This requires us
to transform our economies and societies
to rapidly move to a low carbon development
path and to build resilience.
The development of a shared vision should
be based on the rigorous scientific evaluations
of the IPCC. It should meet the "required
by science" criteria in terms of climate
stringency, adaptation and sustainable development
requirements.
It must also be a shared vision as to the
means of implementation that will be necessary.
The one should not be without the other.
An unequivocal commitment from G8 countries
to a long term aspirational goal must also
be underpinned by ambitious and binding
near- and mid-term targets for all developed
countries.
On the basis of the comprehensive and authoritative
scientific evidence in the IPCC 4th Assessment
Report, the G8 countries should commit to
reducing emissions well below 50% by 2050
compared to 11000 levels. A base year is
important for the integrity of this commitment.
The G8 countries should also recognise that
this requires developed countries to reduce
their emissions by at least -25% to -40%
below 11000 levels by 2020. This leadership
will enable developing countries to deviate
from "business-as-usual" baseline
emissions.
South Africa, as a developing country, can
only accept an aspirational long-term goal
as part of a shared vision as outlined in
the Bali Action Plan if all developed countries
agree to credible, ambitious and binding
mid-term QELRO's, i.e. one in the range
of -25 to -40%. This is how we understand
"comparability of efforts" in
the Bali Action Plan.
2. Finance
On funding, G8 countries could recognize
that….
• Adaptation funding of $ 28 – 67 billion
per year will be required in developing
countries by 2030
• Investment in mitigation of $200-210 billion
per year will be required by 2030 to return
to emissions to current levels, of which
46% in developing countries
What is required is a commitment to upscale
funding for adaptation for 2 to 3 orders
of magnitude, as well as a signal of the
G8's commitment to significantly up-scale
an international funding target, as suggested
by some developing countries, to 0.5% of
their GDP for adaptation and mitigation
in developing countries.
This will give content to the Bali commitment
to measurable, reportable and verifiable
funding in support of quantifiable mitigation
action in developing countries.
We also need a clear commitment to carbon
markets, the creative development of new
market or economic instruments, and scaled-up
public investment. The role of public budgets
should not be taken too lightly.
Finally, a commitment to an equitable governance
regime guided by agreed principles within
a coherent financial architecture under
the UNFCCC is essential. If reference to
new funding initiatives, e.g., the World
Bank Climate Investment Funds supported
by some G8 countries (Japan, UK, US) is
included, it needs to be framed in this
context. G8 member countries' commitments
to funding must be additional to ODA, predictable,
deliverable and specific.
3. Technology
Access to technology is of crucial importance
and would be a key enabling condition for
developing countries to undertake both mitigation
and adaptation action to address climate
change.
A suite of funding mechanisms, investment
structures and policy tools will be required
depending on the different stages of technology
maturity, including:
(i) funding for the wider deployment of
existing technologies,
(ii) venture capital to commercialise promising
near term technologies, and
(iii) public and private investment in long
term technological breakthroughs.
4. Adaptation
The G8 should, in recognising that the Convention
establishes poverty alleviation, economic
and social development as the overriding
priorities of developing countries, address
the urgent need for the development and
financing of policies, measures and mechanisms
to adapt to climate change at the scale
required.
Innovative approaches to the mobilization
of new and additional resources for adaptation
are required, including tapping all the
flexibility mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol,
auctioning of allowances in developed countries
and other financing mechanisms.
5. Mitigation
G8 countries should commit to comparability
of efforts towards the upper end of the
emission reduction range of minus 25% to
40% below 11000 levels by 2020.
If reference to sectoral approaches in support
of their QELRO's are included in the G8
statement, it should be clear that sectoral
bottom-up analysis and efforts would inform
and complement, as opposed to replace, absolute
binding targets for developed countries.
Sectoral efforts might be used to meet those
objectives, but they cannot substitute quantified
emission limitation and reduction objectives
(QELROs) for Annex I Parties.
What do we expect the G8 statement NOT to
do?
The statement should not speak on behalf
of the major economies, but on behalf of
the G8. It would not be in good faith to
use the G8 statement to give a particular
interpretation to the statement by major
economies (MEM) in a way that does not do
justice to what we discussed in our MEM
deliberations.
Competitiveness may be an issue in the climate
negotiations, but it is not the issue to
be addressed at this stage. A focus on sectoral
approaches as a tool to address competitiveness
and carbon leakage concerns may in fact
undermine trust in the current negotiations.
It may be perceived as an attempt to "level
the playing field" between developed
and developing countries in trade-exposed
sectors, thereby diluting the principles
of equity and common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities.
A focus on sectors should not become the
basis for imposing trade barriers, punitive
trade measures, benchmarking or standards,
or targets for developing countries. The
core focus of climate negotiations should
be emission reductions and adaptation, as
well as opportunities and incentives, as
opposed to competitiveness and leakage.
We should caution against bringing unresolved
trade issues to the climate negotiations.
This may delay progress and undermine trust.
The UNFCCC is the appropriate forum to negotiate
issues related to climate change, and the
WTO to negotiate trade-related issues. What
might be useful is if G8 countries could
signal their intent to voluntarily eliminate
G8 country barriers (including intellectual
property right barriers) to trade in environmental
goods and services in support of technology
development in, and transfer to developing
countries.
What can the G8 expect from a developing
country such as South Africa?
Mitigation in developing countries must
address both development and climate imperatives.
We, on our part, are committed to undertaking
measurable, reportable and verifiable nationally
appropriate mitigation actions in the context
of sustainable development. We would increase
the depth and range of these actions to
ensure that our emissions deviate from business-as-usual
if we are enabled to do so through measurable,
reportable and verifiable capacity-building,
financial and technological support from
developed countries that adequately cover
incremental and opportunity costs.
We attach particular importance to the carbon
markets, and the CDM in particular. The
level of ambition one can expect from more
proactive, incentivised leadership of developing
countries will continue to depend on developed
countries taking the lead. Engagement by
all developed countries in multi-lateral,
legally binding, absolute emission reductions
therefore remains key.
Carbon markets can provide some incentives
for commercial technologies that are in
the market; but it needs to be supplemented
by private sector financial flows and massively
scaled-up public investment.
To further enhance developing countries'
meaningful participation in the climate
regime, we support a strategic approach
of sustainable development policies and
measures, or so-called SD-PAMS. The SD-PAMS
approach makes it possible for developing
countries to identify, measure, report and
verify mitigation actions (which include
REDDs), supported by technology and enabled
by financing, and consistent with their
sustainable development objectives.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp
