Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk
6 December 2006
South Africa and Australia boost international co-operation on climate
change.
Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South African Minister of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism, and his Australian counterpart, Senator Ian Campbell, have signed a
letter of intent to co-operate on mutually beneficial issues related to climate
change.
Minister van Schalkwyk commented, "South Africa and Australia are at
comparable latitude in the Southern hemisphere and consequently have similar
climatic conditions and similar challenges due to climate change. Both
countries need to implement policies and measures in the biodiversity sphere
and also in the agricultural sector. Through practical joint activities and
mutual learning, we will be able to enrich our respective domestic programmes
to adapt to the devastating impacts of climate change with a view to conserving
our rich biodiversity, and achieving improved food security."
According to the Minister, in terms of mitigation, there is also expertise
to share on greenhouse gas emissions reporting and monitoring. Both countries
are also very rich in coal, are coal exporters and generate a large proportion
of their energy from coal. Both countries therefore have a very strong interest
in research and development of clean coal technologies as a way of meaningful
participation in global mitigation efforts."
The Minister said, "Co-operation on climate change is in our national
interest and will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of
Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA)." The
ministers from the two countries agreed in principle to explore co-operation in
Montreal in December last year and during the past year, senior officials from
the two departments exchanged information and experiences with a view to
finalising the framework for co-operation. Now that the two Ministers have
agreed to the focus areas of mutual interest, our respective officials will
continue with the development and implementation of joint activities. These
joint activities will also involve government's partners including business,
industry, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the scientific
community.
The full text of the letter of intent follows:
This letter of intent embodies the understandings between the Department of
the Environment and Heritage-Australian Greenhouse Office of the Commonwealth
of Australia and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism of the
Republic of South Africa (hereinafter referred to as the Departments) about
their bilateral partnership on climate change.
The Departments mutually consent to the following on a voluntary basis:
1. The Departments intent to work together on climate change related
activities of mutual benefit.
2. Each Department will facilitate and encourage, to the extent possible,
participation by business, industry, non-governmental organisations and the
scientific communities in bilateral climate change activities and projects
undertaken under this Letter of Intent.
3. In accordance with their prevailing domestic laws and regulations, and
subject to available resources, and avoiding duplication with other bilateral
activities, the Departments will identify, develop and implement a programme of
joint activities designed to deliver practical outcomes of mutual
benefit.
4. The Departments envisage voluntary joint activities in the following
areas:
* climate change impacts and adaptation in the agriculture sector
* climate change and biodiversity
* greenhouse gas emissions reporting and monitoring at national and entity
levels
* exchanging experiences and lessons learned on climate change policies and
measures with a particular focus on clean coal technologies and regulatory and
institutional frameworks.
5. The terms and conditions of individual joint activities will be developed
through discussion and mutual consent between the Departments.
6. The Departments will establish regular interaction and information exchanges
to monitor and review activities under the Letter of Intent, and may add
activities should this be mutually determined.
7. This co-operation will occur for an initial period of three years with a
view to continuation if both Departments consider that the partnership
continues to be of benefit. Either Department may terminate this co-operation
by providing written notice to the other Department.
Enquiries:
Blessing Manale
Cell: 083 381 2939
Riaan Aucamp
Cell: 083 778 9923
Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
6 December 2006
