NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE DATABASE TO BE SHOWCASE

National Climate Change Response Database to be Showcased on 05 March 2009 at Climate Change Summit

04 March 2009 - Media Invitation - Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism - WEDNESDAY, 04 MARCH 2009: Day three (Thursday, 05 March 2009) of the Summit on Climate Change will focus on the South African response. Sandea de Wet, Chief State Law Advisor at the Department of Foreign Affairs will deliver a key note address on the state of international negotiations.

A multi-media presentation on the South African response will also be screened. Deputy Director – General of Environmental Quality and Protection, at the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Joanne Yawitch will present the draft climate change policy framework.

Cabinet’s policy direction will be unpacked during three sessions focusing on mitigation, adaptation: natural resources and adaptation: health and the built environment.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism will also showcase the National Climate Change Response database (NCCRD) in its side event on Thursday, 05 March 2009. The database provides a central portal for and easy access to the excellent climate change work being done in South Africa as well as a networking platform for researchers and potential donors.

The side event will showcase adaptation, mitigation and research intervention projects on climate change since 2000 in South Africa. In addition, it will showcase the reports and statistics on climate change response intervention projects for use by interested parties. It will provide an indication of what effect mitigation intervention projects might have on green house gas emissions reduction. It will also provide an indication on what effect climate change adaptation intervention projects might have on minimizing the negative impacts of climate change on the environment.

The National Climate Change Summit sees over 600 participants from government, organised labour, business and industry associations, public interest groups and academia converge under the theme, “Climate Action Now! ” The Summit ends on Friday, 06 March 2009.

For more information on the summit visit www.ccsummit2009.co.za

SUMMIT DETAILS:

Date: Thursday, 05 March 2009
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Gauteng
Time: 08:00 (Daily Conference proceedings)

Side Event: National Climate Change Response Database

Date: Thursday, 05 March 2009
Venue: Auditorium
Time: 17:30 – 18:30

To RSVP for the above contact Judith van der Merwe on 083 321 2617
Roopa Singh

MEDIA REMINDER: South African President to Open National Climate Change Summit on 03 March 2009

02 March 2009 - Media Statement - Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism - MONDAY, 02 March 2009: The President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe will officially open the National Climate Change Summit on Tuesday, 03 March 2009 at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Gauteng.

Media is invited to the opening session on Tuesday, 03 March 2009 at 14:00.

Hosted by the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Tourism as well as Science and Technology, the Summit will formally launch the policy process that will translate Cabinet’s climate change policy decisions and directives into fiscal, regulatory and legislative packages as well as sectoral implementation plans.

The Summit will provide all key climate change response stakeholders with an update on the most recent climate change research and other current South African initiatives and interventions. The Summit will also provide a platform for all key climate change response stakeholders to discuss and agree on the framework for a National Climate Change Response Policy.

Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, will deliver a keynote address during the opening session on Cabinet’s climate change response directives and the international negotiations context.

The National Climate Change Summit will see over 600 participants from government, organised labour, business and industry associations, public interest groups and academia converge under the theme, “Climate Action Now!”

The opening day (03 March 2009) will also see the broadcast of a key video presentation on the global climate change challenge by Climate Change Nobel Prize winner, Professor Rajendra Pachauri. An address on the expectations for the Copenhagen COP in December 2009 will also be delivered through a video insert by Danish Minister of Climate and Energy, Connie Hedegaard.

Minister of Transport, Jeff Radebe and Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica will present government’s vision on climate change mitigation with a transport and energy focus respectively.

Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Lindiwe Hendricks will present government’s vision on climate change adaptation.

Councillor Amos Masondo, Chairperson of SALGA will speak to local government’s vision for a South African climate change response while industry’s vision will be presented by Jerry Vilakazi, CEO of Business Unity of South Africa (BUSA).

The vision shared by labour for a South African climate change response will be conveyed by COSATU Deputy General Secretary, Bheki Ntshalintshali and Richard Worthington will present civil society’s vision as coordinator of the Climate Action Network South Africa.

Delegate registration for the Summit is closed but there will be live audio and audiovisual streaming of the Climate Change Summit. A blog facility will be available on the website as part of the live streaming display. Public comments and a selection of relevant questions raised during Q & A sessions will be streamed into the plenary session.

The Summit will continue until Friday, 06 March 2009. The conference programme is comprehensive and categorised into thematic areas. Several pertinent side events are also scheduled during the Summit.

To view the comprehensive programme and for further information on the live streaming visit www.ccsummit2009.co.za

Media is invited to the Summit

Summit Opening Details:

Date: Tuesday, 03 March 2009

Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Gauteng

Time: Opening session begins at 14:00
(Please arrive sufficiently in advance for registration purposes)
(Press identification will be required for Summit registration)

To RSVP for the opening session contact:

Judith van der Merwe (DEAT)
Cell: 083 321 2617
E-mail: jvdmerwe@deat.gov.za
Roopa Singh

Opening Remarks by the honourable Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Joyce Mabudafhasi, at the occasion of Enviro Water Conference on the 2nd March 2009, in Stellenbosch, Western Cape

02 March 2009 – Speech - Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism - Click here to view the Conference Programme

Your Excellency Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany: Dieter W Haller
Member of the German Federal Parliament: Barbel Hohn
Academics
Representatives of Companies and NGOs
Representatives of Government Departments and Institutions
Distinguished participants

Introduction and background
When we opened the Environ-Water International Conference in 2006, we made an undertaking to support the United Nations’ “Water for Life” Decade which was launched in 2005. Therefore, today’s gathering signifies our unwavering commitment to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals on access to water and promotion of sustainable development.

The strategic importance of sustaining our efforts on sustainable management of natural resources, especially water cannot be emphasized enough. As we all know water is one of the most precious commodities that nature gives to us.

It is quite scary to imagine what would happen if we ruin our environment and deplete its natural systems to a point at which we may not have enough water. Without water, there would be no life on earth as our biodiversity and natural systems would collapse to a point of no return.

From an African perspective, water availability on a sustainable basis is a critical issue as we have inadequate supply of this precious commodity. Africa experiences large disparity in water availability, thus compounding our water supply and sanitation problems.

Research shows that Africa’s share of global freshwater resources is about 9% which must meet the needs of 27% of world’s population. Furthermore, with only 64% of the population having access to improved water supply, Africa has the lowest proportional supply of water compared to other regions of the world.
If water supply and sanitation problems in Africa are not attended to as a matter of emergency, our socio-economic programs on poverty eradication and fighting the scourge of diseases will be dealt a severe blow.

Sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity conservation
The scarcity of water and degraded freshwater ecosystems has negative impact on agricultural food production and livelihoods of poor communities. Once again, the situation is getting worse in Africa as researchers have shown that the number of undernourished Africans rose steeply during the 11000s while the total number of undernourished people worldwide has fallen.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) makes regular warning on the ‘food crisis’ experienced by several countries in Africa. In its last report on Food Supply Situation and Crop Prospects in Sub-Saharan African, it cited some countries as desperately in need of food aid. It is obvious that our water management programs need to be improved in order to address this situation.

South Africa is no exception to water supply challenges facing the continent as it is a semi-arid country. Water produced at 19 Water Management Areas (WMAs) across the country is disproportionately distributed and inadequate to meet our basic needs, let alone our economic development imperatives.

At present many water resources are polluted by industrial effluents, domestic and commercial sewage, acid mine drainage, agricultural runoff and litter. Ecological changes to freshwater ecosystems occur because of catchment degradation, regulation of flow by impoundments, pollution, over-extraction of water and the breakdown of natural bio-geographical barriers result in extensive habitat loss, a decrease in biodiversity and an increase in invasive and pest species.

In extreme cases, these can result in ecological collapse of the functioning of the natural systems. Additionally, riverine habitats have been so changed, that little remains of natural freshwater systems in South Africa. Many perennial rivers have become seasonal, e.g. Luvuvhu and Letaba in Limpopo province. The scarcity of freshwater resources and highly variable hydrological conditions has led to every major river in South Africa being regulated in order to ensure adequate water supply for development.

Solution from a South African perspective
To improve this situation, South Africa has entered into mutually beneficial partnerships for water supply and economic development with its neighbouring countries. One example of such partnerships is between South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho which is in the form of Highlands Water Project for supply of large volumes of water from Lesotho to South Africa.

Our government is making huge efforts to make our socio-economic development activities to be water-efficient. South Africa has a sound legislative framework for sustainable water management and is a signatory to international protocols that are important to water management. Most legislation pertaining to the environment affects water resources, either directly or indirectly.

The environmental management principles in the National Environmental Management Act are as important for how we manage our water and catchments, as the principles of the National Water Act and the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act.

The most relevant pieces of legislation are the Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997) and the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998).
In light of the uneven distribution of the water resources of the country and previous inequitable policies, the Water Services Act is important in ensuring that people's basic water needs are met. The Act is based on the principles of sustainability of use and equity of distribution. It ensures that there is sound planning and that water service providers are set up country-wide to cater for everyone.

The problem of water supply is to a large extent man-made. We therefore need to take collective responsibility to restore freshwater ecosystems. Our government in partnership with communities and private sector has been implementing a land rehabilitation program at a massive scale.

Some of the activities include tree planting and other measures to control soil erosion. These partnerships are usually targeted at rehabilitating and conserving areas that are of critical importance for water supply and availability such as catchment areas and wetlands.

Scientific evidence shows that water pollution is caused by destructive activities at various water source points and along the rivers. Any activities in a river affect the natural quality of ecosystems and people downstream, and anything that happens on land also affects the quality of our water.

We are using Inkomati Catchment Management in Mpumalanga province as a pilot project for in-depth study to establish conclusive evidence of how ecosystems are destabilized and apply appropriate corrective measures. Once we have a successful model, we will replicate it to benefit other areas.

Our agency, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is implementing a programme called Working for Wetlands which aims to rehabilitate the wetlands to stop the erosion and protect the food plots, and also to enable the wetland to continue providing its water purification and water storage functions. Rehabilitation restores the functioning of wetlands to a certain extent. Our government is spending R75 million every year on this program. This assists our government to cut cost on setting up expensive refinery plants and channel funds to needy cases.

Conclusion
The programmes initiated by international, continental and local institutions to mitigate degradation of freshwater ecosystems, restore vegetations and forests, ensure industrial compliance to waste management, introduce sanitation to all households and raise educational awareness on water conservation are currently being implemented.

I’m confident that deliberations in this conference will include interim reports on progress related to some of these programs. I am also certain that this conference will present a new set of resolutions and recommendations on how best we can achieve lasting results on water management and conservation of other natural resources.

I wish you a very successful conference.

Thank you

Speech Delivered by Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, at the National Climate Change Summit, 3 March 2009

03 March 2009 – Speech - Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism - When we met here in Midrand three and a half years ago for the first National Climate Change Summit, our understanding of the climate challenge was vastly different to what it is today.

Four years ago climate change was hardly discussed in Government, or internationally by Heads of State. Today, it is amongst the foremost priorities on our Government’s agenda and that of nearly every major international meeting involving Heads of State.

Four years ago there were still a few climate sceptics in the corridors. There was no fourth assessment report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Today the scientific consensus resounds with one clear message: climate change is happening now and will get far worse unless we substantially reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and start doing it now.

Four years ago, there was no Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change. Today the economic case for the most comprehensive possible international cooperation is abundantly clear. And rather than falling into despair over the costs of action, we understand today that action on climate change is an investment in the future.

Four years ago, business and government were rather ignorant about finding new competitive advantages in clean and renewable technologies. Today we understand that the development of these technologies is imperative. Rather than viewing action on climate change as a burden in the current global financial crisis, we realize that it holds myriad opportunities for green investment and green jobs.

Four years ago, climate change did not feature prominently in the international trade arena. Today we know that if we continue to grow without a carbon constraint we face the threat of border tax adjustments or trade sanctions from key trading partners and the destruction of thousands of jobs in the high emitting trade exposed sectors.

Four years ago, the pressure was largely on developed countries to do more to mitigate climate change. Today strong leadership is coming from amongst the ranks of developing countries. Last year China published a White Paper on climate change, India published their National Plan, Brazil tabled a Climate Bill, and South Africa completed its Long Term Mitigation Scenario (LTMS) study.

Four years ago we did not have an LTMS to inform our climate policy framework. Today we understand that, in a ‘do nothing’ scenario, South Africa’s emissions will quadruple by 2050, rendering our economy and society extremely vulnerable.

Four years ago it seemed as if the major negotiating blocks were so far apart that a fair, effective and inclusive climate regime was beyond reach. Today we have the Bali Roadmap and Bali Action Plan as a basis for negotiating a strengthened climate regime for the period after 2012.

And finally, four years ago we were still in the middle of eight dark years of the Bush Administration. Today we are witnessing the emergence of new voices of reason in Washington.

Chairperson,

As we meet here today some four years later, I am encouraged by what I believe is a common understanding, namely that no nation has a plausible excuse for not doing its fair share.

That “fair share” is inextricably linked to questions of global equity. No one disputes that the developed countries carry the bulk of the responsibility for cumulative historical emissions since the industrial revolution. Similarly, no one disputes that emissions from developing countries are growing rapidly. The key challenge is to balance the sharing of the carbon space with affording developing countries a fair chance in the development space.

Where we draw a line is when some developed countries argue that the developing world should help them carry a part of their burden. The fact of the matter is that the carbon space is finite and 70% of the “safe” carbon space has already been used up, largely by industrialised countries. Any attempt to place an absolute cap on the access of developing countries to the little remaining “safe” carbon space will therefore be counter-productive in the current negotiations.

Turning to December 2009 in Copenhagen: the agreement in Copenhagen must mobilise political will on the basis of a shared vision. It must balance the international adaptation and mitigation responses, it must balance climate stabilization and sustainable development, and it must address the means for developing countries to implement effective policies and measures.

On adaptation, the Copenhagen agreement must provide massively scaled-up and predictable support for implementation.

The global mitigation effort should be informed by the most ambitious IPCC scenario for climate stabilization. For developed countries this means a cut in emissions of at least 80%-95% below 11000 levels by 2050, underpinned by credible mid-term targets towards the upper end of the 25%-40% range below 11000 by 2020.

From the USA we expect comparability of efforts, captured in a legally binding manner under the Convention. The US must negotiate its commitment together with all nations, and these commitments must be encoded in US domestic legislation. We cannot accept anything that suggests that, because the US has done so little for so long, we must allow them to do less than required-by-science in future.

The signals from President Obama have been encouraging, even though in substance the new Administration is still on a ZERO reduction below 11000 levels by 2020 – a level that is clearly not acceptable. And although this is an opening bid, the USA would need to come forward with a meaningful negative percentage soon. The same applies to Japan, Russia and Canada, and to the very disappointing announcements by Australia.

For developing countries the Copenhagen agreement could set up a register of nationally-appropriate mitigation actions in a new legal instrument under the Convention. As a developing country we are saying that we take our responsibilities seriously and that we are already making a meaningful contribution. We are willing to do more and to substantially deviate from business-as-usual emission trajectories. But the trigger must come from the North.

Therefore we also need a legally binding instrument for measurable, reportable and verifiable finance, technology and capacity support from developed to developing countries. Predictable funding holds the potential to trigger matching mitigation actions. In fact, I do not foresee an ambitious agreement by Copenhagen without an agreement on predictable, stable and adequate financial flows from developed countries.

Chair, we have noted with concern that a few developed countries continue to raise the issue of “further differentiation between developing countries”. This is simply not open to negotiation. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change creates two categories of Parties: Annex I (developed countries and economies in transition) and Non-Annex I (developing countries). There is no mezzanine level.

From our perspective, any attempt to redefine the categories of countries in the UNFCCC or to dilute the founding principles of equity and “common but differentiated responsibilities” raises the broader political question of graduation of countries between categories within the whole United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions. It therefore becomes a much larger geo-political issue than just climate change.

Our approach is that the application of the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” has changed since 1997 when the Kyoto Protocol was negotiated, but the concept remains valid. In 1997 these principles practically translated into quantified mitigation targets for developed countries, and none for developing countries. What has changed - informed by the science - is that we must all do more.

Therefore, in the mid-term, developing countries such as South Africa are saying that we are willing to enhance our actions and to differentiate voluntarily between ourselves through the actions that we take. But this entails differentiation through actions, not through the top down creation of new legal categories.

Finally, let me briefly turn to an immediate challenge for our own industry. Business is a key partner and it is engaging pro-actively. For the most part, it is repositioning itself to face the changing economic landscape in a carbon-constrained world.

But I do get the impression that in some quarters, business does not yet fully appreciate the implications of the developing world’s commitment to a substantial deviation below baseline emission trajectories in a measurable, reportable and verifiable way.
Not only do proper tracking, reporting and managing of emissions make business sense, it is also an indicator of good corporate governance and of taking co-ownership for the future.

I therefore wish to reiterate that industry must prepare itself for a new era in which mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions will become part of the regulatory landscape. DEAT has initiated a process of developing greenhouse gas measurement, monitoring and reporting regulations that will shift our work in this regard from a voluntary to a mandatory level.

Chair, I started off today by reflecting on how far we have come in the last four years, what progress has been made, how the challenges have become more urgent, and how this unlocks opportunities for green growth and development. Let me conclude by posing a challenge: When this Summit meets again in four years from now, our reflections should be on how our country has met the challenge of implementation.

We cannot allow ourselves to dither at the point when action and implementation are most critical. The decisions we have to take are tough, but I have never been more convinced that they are right and necessary.

I thank you

For further information regarding the Summit please refer to the following link: www.ccsummit2009.co.za
Ronel Bester