Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane,
Mr Brown,
Mr Dames,
Colleagues,
Members of the Media,
South Africa looks forward to participate in the next 17th meeting of the Climate Change negotiations or Conference of Parties (COP17/CMP7) in Durban between 28 November 2011 and 9 December 2011.
As communicated by Cabinet earlier this year, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs is entrusted with the responsibility of leading South African delegation in pursuing the country’s interest at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), COP 17/CMP 7 negotiations.
The work of the South African delegation therefore is focusing on the three key priorities in the build-up to the COP at the end of this year:
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The development, compilation, approval and lobbying of the South African COP17 negotiating position that will be taken for approval by Cabinet in October this year;
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The coordination and implementation of projects that reduce or offset the impacts of COP17 and projects that leave a lasting COP17 legacy - COP17 Greening and Legacy Projects; and
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The Public Climate Change Outreach and Mobilisation Programme that is aimed at ensuring that as we approach the COP, we engage widely with all South Africans to ensure that the message of Climate Change is well understood by our various communities.
Ladies and gentlemen, as part of the public awareness and outreach programme, we have already finalised our programme of action to assist our efforts to ensure we visit all our provinces as we had communicated during our April stakeholder engagement in Midrand. Your media packs will have a document that maps out our provincial summits in collaboration with various provincial governments.
If there is any legacy we can bestow on our people from this conference is the power of knowledge. Knowledge not only in understanding what climate change and how each and every one of us can contribute, but in knowing that decisions we make today determine the heritage of future generations. Other departments are also engaging their stakeholders and ensuring that participation at the conference indeed represents the grassroots.
Ladies and gentlemen, when we made a call in April for a Team South Africa approach to the conference, the response we received from other government departments has been encouraging. The brief was simple, let us showcase climate response activities we are doing as a country, and let us coordinate our stakeholders to effectively participate in this African CoP.
I am pleased to share with you that several exciting projects have been put forward, ranging from natural resource management, energy, transportation systems, science and technology to agricultural case studies and social mobilisation. The support we received from business and other agencies have been encouraging and really appreciate the support provided.
Ladies and gentlemen, climate change is one of the greatest threats to sustainable development and demands that Durban at least puts in place necessary building blocks to deliver a balanced agreement that takes historical responsibilities into account. The fact that the International Energy Agency cited 2010 as the year with the highest recorded emissions demonstrates the urgency with which the world has to deal with climate change.
South Africa is committed to develop unity of the African Group and a Common African Position in the negotiations. In view of the fact that Africa is the continent most affected by Climate Change, it is important that Africa continues to speak with one voice; hence we have hosted a series of preparatory meetings by the African Group Negotiators, with the last meeting going to be held in Durban from 8 to 10 of August.
Ladies and gentlemen, in the Malabo African Union Summit I referred to, our Heads of State and Government identified some priorities having assessed that the Durban conference will be a step towards a fair global regime on climate, rather than conclude a comprehensive agreement. The priorities were identified as,
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firstly maintaining the integrity of the multilateral process by operationalising both unresolved issues from Bali in 2007, as well as the progress made in Cancun last year
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secondly, protection of the environment for future generations, hence a determination on the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and a comparable emission reduction regime for non-Kyoto Parties
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thirdly, adaptation should be at the center of the deal by ensuring that there is a process for concrete implementation of adaptation activities and noting that adaptation needs and costs depend on emission reduction ambition
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fourthly, finance discussions should be an area of focus within the negotiations, particularly the design of the Green Climate Fund
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lastly, theCommittee of Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) reiterated the role of African Ministerial Conference on the Environment in coordinating climate change issues in Africa, and these Ministers will meet on 15 to 16 September in Bamako, Mali, to consider the Africa Common Position.
Ladies and gentlemen, for South Africa, taking meaningful climate action is about seizing the opportunity - to build international competitiveness, new economic infrastructure, sectors and activity; create prosperity and jobs; transform the economy and society; reduce poverty; improve health and quality of life for all. The development strides achieved by the African continent in the last decade or so are at risk from the effects of climate change, and a global response presents an opportunity for Africa to further it sustainable development objectives.
South Africa will implement nationally appropriate mitigation actions which result in the reduction of emissions by 34% relative to our Business as Usual trajectory by 2020 and by 42% in 2025. The extent to which this commitment is achieved depends on the provision of finance, technology and capacity building support by developed countries and through the United Nations climate change regime.
South Africa will further work on understanding the vulnerabilities of country and people from the effects of climate change, which are predicted to be in the order of 1 to 2 degrees celsius by 2050 in coastal areas and 2 to 3 degrees Celsius inland. We will continue to look at opportunities of climate proofing our people, our economy and our natural resources.
The imminent Climate Change Response paper is the platform for outlining the country’s leadership in a response to climate change, and I look forward to another briefing of his nature where we can deal with those aspects.
I thank you!
