NDM AND CSA PARTNERS CONFERENCE 13 – 14 MARCH 2012, SPRINGBOK

NORTHERN CAPE CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE STRATEGY (working document)

PRESENTED BY: B. D. Fisher

PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENT STATEMENT WITH REGARD TO CLIMATE CHANGE

• The province strives to create an economic, social , healthy and sustainable environment for all Communities within the Northern Cape irrespective of religion, colour or financial status.

• The province supports green economy projects which will specifically benefit the province and it’s people.

• The Province would also like to position itself as the leader in the producer of renewable energy for South Africa.

THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES

• Threats Food security / Vectors Water Mining Land use changes Disasters Human settlements /

refugees Sea level rise Agricultural practices

• Opportunities Renewable energy Eco tourism Green economy Sustainable farming

practices Indigenous Knowledge Partnerships Planning

POLICY DEVELOPMENT

• In 2006 the SA cabinet commissioned a process to examine the potential to mitigate the country’s GHG emissions.

• This document would later become known as the Long Term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS) that would provide sound scientific analysis from which cabinet would develop a long term climate policy.

• This document would also give our negotiators a clear mandated position at the UNFCCC meetings.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT

• This document attempts to answer two fundamental questions:

Why should South Africa be concerned with the mitigation of greenhouse gases?

and What options for mitigation are available, how much can each option

reduce emissions, and at what cost?

STRUCTURE OF THE RESPONSE STRATEGY

• INTRODUCTION What is climate change. What causes climate change Green house gas effect Green house gases Sources of green house gases• KEY SECTORS Agriculture Energy Manufacturing / Industry Water

Biodiversity Education Human health Transport Human settlements (urban.rural

and coastal)• Green house gas inventory• Green jobs• Resources• Provincial Climate Change

committee

ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

• PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS Department of Environment and Nature Conservation; develop the

provincial strategy in conjunction with sector departments. Chair the Provincial Climate Change Committee Develop a data base where all climate change projects are registered Update outcome 10 reporting templates Sector departments to develop sector specific strategies. - Water sector - Renewable energy - Clean Development mechanisms

ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES (cont.)

• SALGA Coordinate all climate change activities at local government level. Ensure that local authorities start to incorporate climate change related activities

into there IDP’s and projects.

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT Community leaders – persuading and helping local organisations to reduce

emissions. Reducing emissions from their own activities and operations – procurement,

buildings, waste and transportation. Helping to shape low-carbon communities through strategic planning, green jobs,

building control, retro fitting houses, transport infrastructure and other projects. •

ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES (cont.)

Embedding climate change action as a priority in sustainable community strategies, local economic development (LED), spatial development frameworks (SDFs) and waste strategies.

Advocating, educating, encouraging and incentivizing low-carbon lifestyles.

Advocating the use and documentation of indigenous knowledge.

• COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS / NGO’s Assist with the identification and implementation of sustainable projects. Monitor and evaluate environmental trends. Advise local authorities on mitigation and adaptation projects. Access funding for climate change projects

ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES (cont.)

• INDUSTRY / MANUFACTURING Develop GHG inventories, strategies and plans on how to move away from

dirty technology and implement greener technology. Reduce emissions to comply with legislative requirements. Assist with the creation of a green economy within there social

responsibility plans. Create partnerships with local government. Implement air monitoring programs.

OUTCOMES

• The Department wants to pro actively build the knowledge base and capacity of communities to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change, especially when it involves the implementation of basic services, water resources management, infrastructure planning, agriculture, biodiversity, green jobs. renewable energy and health programs.

• Green House Gases (GHG) must peak, plateau and decline. This means it must stop growing at the latest by 2020 - 2025 , stabilize for up to ten years and then decline in absolute terms.

OUTCOMES

• An inventory of baseline data of present plant and animals in the province must be developed as a matter of urgency. To this end joint efforts are needed involving DENC, SANBI, Environmental NGO’s, Universities, Conservation SA and other stakeholders.

• Plans to deal with land degrading as there is a need to prevent and manage and to improve land use.

• A provincial water security plan to be developed in conjunction with all stakeholders.

• The people of the Northern Cape shall share in the creation of Green jobs in the province.

OUTCOMES

• Water conservation and demand management must be a priority for both communities and local authorities.

• Flood and drought preparedness will need to receive more attention.

• Alternative water resources including rain harvesting, mist water harvesting should be further investigated as an adaptive measures.

• A comprehensive plan must be developed to address educational awareness programs on Climate change and Green jobs in communities and schools.

OUTCOMES

• A sustainable plan of action must also be developed to address the vulnerable communities within the Province so as to lessen the impact of climate change on these communities.

• Attention must also be given to the development of renewable energy developments within the province.

CHALLENGES• Financial resources• Human resources• Cooperation between stakeholders• Accuracy of data received• Lack of monitoring equipment• The different models used in predicting climate change (different

results)• Changing human behaviour

•

POLICY PROCESS• Workshopped in all Districts.• Currently a working document.• To be circulated for comment end March 2012.• In corporate comments in to document.• Circulate for final comment.(end May 2012)• Submit to MEC for approval.(end June 2012)• Publish document. (end July 2012)

We have one globe, with many environments that are essential to our existence lets do the right thing. If there is no healthy environment, there is no life. So what does money or wealth then mean.

THANK YOU