The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) will, together with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), host a workshop titled the Road Map Towards the National Implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) at St George’s Hotel and Conference centre in Gauteng, from 19 to 22 August 2013.
The honourable Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi will deliver a keynote address at the workshop. The GFCS was established on 3 September 2009 in recognition of the fact that society will need information tools to adapt as the climate will continue to be variable and to change notwithstanding steps taken to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
The declaration establishing the GFCS was adopted by high-level policy-makers from more than 150 countries, including Heads of State/Government and more than 80 Ministers and other Senior Government Officials. The GFCS and its establishment was an important step towards strengthening the application of climate science in local, regional, national and international decision-making.
The South African workshop will bring together key stakeholders to assess the current provision of climate services in the country, bring forward future needs, as well as cooperate and plan for the enhancement of all climate services.
This arises out of a need for the country to consolidate climate change and variability as well as climate mitigation services. This initiative finds its niche in delivering an effective, efficient and economical programme or plan that makes optimum use of the existing infrastructure, its institutions and mechanisms.
The format of the workshop will be exploratory in approach. It will provide an analysis of the implications of the GFCS in the country, scanning the landscape, as well as understanding the climate services’ space in the context of South Africa.
The outcomes of the workshop are expected to help support a coherent collaboration and integration of the delivery and uptake of climate services at a national level within the ambit of the National Climate Change Response Policy.
The workshop will involve various institutions, including government departments and agencies for environment, water resources, agriculture and forestry, marine, health, energy, disaster management and other climate sensitive sectors. Hydrological services, users of climate services, universities and other research institutions will also be in attendance.
Media are invited to attend the workshop as follows:
Date: 19 to 22 August 2013
Time: 09h00
Venue: St George’s Hotel, 58 Doornkloof, Goede Hoop Avenue, M57 Rietvleidam, Gauteng
To RSVP contact:
Nwabisa Tsengiwe
Cell: 074 605 6149
Tel: 012 310 3198
E-mail: NTsengiwe@environment.gov.za
Ludwe Matanzima
Tel: 012 395 1770
E-mail: LMatanzima@environment.gov.za
For media queries:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
