Reinhardt Hartzenberg

MEC for Public Works Maggie Govender with school pupils who showed off their climate-change posters at the Mandeni Sports Piaza yesterday. The writer says correct mitigating efforts present opportunities to move towards a greener economy

Decisive action on climate change can no longer be viewed, as it is in some circles, as mutually exclusive to robust economic growth and development. The South African government is committed to addressing the global threat of climate change, but this will not come at the cost of growing the economy, creating jobs or boosting international competitiveness.

Climate change itself poses a critical threat to socio-economic development, in areas as diverse as water and sanitation, food security, health, energy, industrial development and housing. However, appropriate adaptation and mitigation efforts present viable and sustainable opportunities to transit towards a green economy. With these goals in mind, South Africa looks forward to participating in the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 7th meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP7) in Durban between November 28 and December 9.

The Kyoto climate change conference, convened in 1997, aimed to establish a legally binding international agreement, in which participating developed nations committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions, by an average reduction of 5.2 percent from 1990 levels in the first commitment period from 2008 to 2012. COP17/CMP7 is significant in the multilateral negotiation process to agree on a second commitment period, given that the first commitment period of the Kyoto protocol will end next year.

As we move closer to COP17/CMP7, the public discourse among business, environmental activists and other stakeholders should reflect a cognisance that the goals of creating jobs, developing infrastructure and preserving our natural resources are not at odds and the conservation of the environment and economic development are not mutually exclusive.

South Africa seeks a global regime that ensures that climate change does not reach dangerous levels, while recognising that the priority for developing countries is to address poverty and socio-economic development. For the government, taking meaningful climate action is about seizing the opportunity to build international competitiveness and new economic infrastructure, sectors and activity; create prosperity and jobs; transform the economy and society; reduce poverty; and improve health and quality of life for all.

The latest scientific reports indicate that South Africa will become drier in the west and wetter in the east, accompanied by an increase in the variability and the frequency of severe weather events, such as drought, tornadoes, floods and other natural disasters.

Though not scientifically linked to climate change, the recent fatal tornadoes in Duduza and the Free State have given us an example of the possible lurking threats posed by climate change to South Africa. Such natural disasters pose a direct threat to agriculture, food security, service delivery and the integrity of vital infrastructure in rural areas and urban hubs.

Independent of, but also linked to, our work in the international climate change programme through the UNFCCC, the Department of Environmental Affairs led a process of formulating an effective national response to climate change through the white paper on a National Climate Change Response.

The South African government recognises that the impacts of climate change have the potential to completely undermine developmental gains that have been made up till now. The study of climate change economics conducted by Sir Nicholas Stern showed that if no action is taken to mitigate climate change it would cost between 10 percent and 15 percent of global gross domestic product by 2050. The South African government is alive to this threat and is committed to contributing towards a low-carbon future.

The policy outlined in the white paper serves as the embodiment of our government’s commitment to a fair contribution to the stabilisation of global greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and the protection of the country and its people from the impacts of climate change. This is, among others, a decisive action based on the acknowledgement that our economic development is vital, but must go hand and in hand with conserving the environment.

In 2007, the Department of Environmental Affairs published a comprehensive and intensive study of the mitigation potential of our country, recognising the responsibility we have as an energy-intensive economy. This Long-Term Mitigation Scenarios study also informed the policy development process as it identified not only the emission profile of various sectors, but potential areas in which South Africa can cut its emissions while also growing its economy.

South Africa has committed internationally to implement nationally appropriate mitigation actions that collectively will result in the reduction of emissions by 34 percent relative to our business as usual trajectory by 2020 and by 42 percent in 2025. This level of effort will enable our greenhouse gas emission to peak between 2020 and 2025, plateau for about a decade and reduce in absolute terms thereafter.

The extent to which this outcome is achieved depends on the extent to which developed countries meet their legal obligations to provide financial, capacity building, technology development and transfer support through the UN climate change regime. The development of our policy took cognisance of these commitments.

The country will intensify research into understanding the vulnerabilities of the nation and its population in relation to the effects of climate change. It is projected that temperatures may increase by 1-2ºC by 2050 in coastal areas and 2-3ºC inland.

In addition to the local effects within South Africa’s borders, the development strides achieved by Africa in the past decade or so are at risk from the effects of climate change. A comprehensive, fair and effective global response presents an opportunity for Africa to further its sustainable development objectives.

As an African developing country, South Africa will use the opportunity afforded by COP17/CMP7 to showcase the way in which climate change impacts on the country and the continent, as well as the responses it is implementing.

Addressing the UN General Assembly two years ago, US President Barack Obama conceded that lack of a concerted effort on climate change would spell doom for those to come.

We would urge the US to offer leadership in getting the developed countries to assist all parties in working towards a balanced climate deal.

If there is any legacy we can bestow on our people from this conference it is the power of knowledge – in understanding what climate change is and how every one of us can contribute to mitigation and adaptation solutions, and in knowing that decisions we make today determine the heritage of future generations.

It is our hope that we will be able to keep the Kyoto protocol for a transitional period, while a new climate change regime is negotiated. Whatever the outcome of COP17/CMP7, it is clear to all countries that the effects of climate change on the planet, its people and economies, cannot be ignored. Indeed, there are mouths to feed and jobs to be created today, but there are means of providing for our current needs without sacrificing our future.

Negotiators at COP17/CMP7 have a mammoth, though not insurmountable, task to clear the way for such a regime.

* Molewa is Minster of Water and Environmental Affairs and the leader of South Africa’s delegation at COP 17.