Honourable Speaker
Honourable members
I rise to table a motion without notice to congratulate the Minister of Tourism, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, on his nomination for the position of the Head of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and to also congratulate the Minister in the Presidency responsible for National Planning, Mr Trevor Manuel on his appointment to the United Nation’s Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing.
Noting that President Jacob Zuma was approached by several governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and businesses from both developed and developing countries regarding the nomination of Honourable van Schalkwyk to head the UNFCCC after the departure of the outgoing Head, Mr Yvo de Boer, from the beginning of July this year. This can only mean that as an African and developing country, we are a force to be reckoned with. It is a sign of staunch confidence in our capability, that we can lead the world in terms of mitigating the effects of climate change.
Also noting that Minister van Schalkwyk’s nomination was given thumbs up when President Jacob Zuma and the executive unanimously agreed to the nomination of our own, to lead this crucial portfolio at the level of the United Nations. This can only re-affirm our commitment as the ruling party and government, of advancing our cadres in our quest to save the world. Given the already visible and felt adverse effects of climate change, President Zuma has already urged Minister van Schalkwyk to strive towards achieving a legally binding climate agreement, when he takes office.
As the then Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Honourable van Schalkwyk played a critical role, representing the country, in the drawing of what came to be known as the Bali Road Map which framed the climate change negotiations held in Copenhagen, Denmark in December last year. The road map was intended to agree on deep reduction of greenhouse gas emission levels by 2020, in order to ease the impact of global warming.
Further noting that the only other contender for the post, India’s Environment Secretary, Vijay Sharma, is supported by only his home country and China, and none of the developed countries, this give us hope that Honourable van Schalkwyk will make it to the appointment. He has advantage after having been nominated by a number of governments, NGOs and businesses in both developed and developing countries.
Further noting that, South Africa participated at the negotiations on climate change held in Copenhagen, Denmark from 7 to 18 December 2009, which unfortunately did not leave up to our expectations. Our expectations as a country, was for the conference to agree on a comprehensive international programme in the adaptation that provides access to significantly up-scaled finance of at least 100 billion United States dollars per annum by 2020.
We were also expecting a legally binding agreement that compels all developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emission levels by at least 40 percent below 1990 levels, in order to restrict the global temperature rise to a maximum of two degrees Celsius by 2020.
Also noting that the appointment of Minister Manuel to the high level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing, launched by the United Nations secretary general in February this, will give us an added advantage to argue our case which we presented at the climate change conference in Copenhagen last year.
We had hoped that the anticipated agreement at the end of the conference would compel all developed countries to financially support developing countries to finance new technology and capacity building. As a responsible country, along with other developing countries, we are already taking leadership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, using the limited resources at our disposal.
Further noting that the Advisory Groups on Climate Change Financing was formed to mobilise financing to assist developing countries in combating climate change; the advisory group of 19 experts, amongst others, heads of states and governments, representatives of central banks as well as experts on public finance, will study potential sources of revenue for financing mitigation and adaptation activities in developing countries. The group, which is scheduled to hold its first meeting in London on 29 March 2010, is also tasked to come up with practical proposals to boost both short and long-term financing for mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Also noting that our country will be the host of the 17th Congress of Parties Conference on Climate Change under the auspices of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in 2011; the nomination and appointment of Ministers van Schalkwyk and Manuel respectively, came at an appropriate time and is highly supported.
Our ultimate stand point as a country is that, there is a need to agree with the rest of the world on the equitable sharing of the little remaining carbon development space. We should be allowed to continue to grow our economy in order to address our development challenges as a developing country. The nomination and appointment of the two South Africans thus gives us an advantage of having spokespeople and ambassadors for climate change mitigation efforts at the United Nations.
I therefore move that:
* The house also unanimously endorse the nomination of Minister van Schalkwyk as the next Head of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
* The house congratulate him on his nomination to the crucial United Nations post
* The house wishes him good luck on his imminent appointment, since his win is South Africa’s win
* The house also congratulate Minister Manuel on his appointment as a Member of the United Nations high level Group on Climate Change Financing
* The house wishes Minister Manuel well on his additional and new responsibility at the United Nations.
I so move, Honourable Speaker!
Issued by: Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
12 March 2010
Source: Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Mpumalanga Provincial Government (http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za/dedet/index.asp)
