Parliament will on Tuesday and Wednesday next week hold public hearings on the political, economic, legal, gender and social impacts of climate change.
Climate change issues require a multi-sectoral, inter-departmental, national, provincial and local government involvement, an approach that could address multiple issues at once.
The public hearings, which will be on the 17 to 18, will be conducted by the following Parliamentary Committees:
* Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs
* Portfolio Committee on Energy
* Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology
* Portfolio Committee on Health
* Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land reform
* Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
* Portfolio Committee on Social Development
* Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
* Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth, Children and Persons with disabilities
* Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs
The aims of the hearings include the following:
* To develop a comprehensive picture of how climate change is impacting on communities and ecosystems in South Africa from various stakeholders
* To understand the gaps between the existing legislation and government policies
* To understand the gaps in government’s response to climate change and sustainable development
* To identify short, medium as well as long-term solutions, and what action is needed from Parliament and government
* To inform Parliamentarians on what the South African negotiating team at the 2009 December Copenhagen climate change negotiations should be advocating in the new international climate framework.
The public hearings are in line with Parliament’s aim to enhance public participation in its processes. To this end, the Committees will hear from a range of stakeholders and individuals drawn from business, labour and civil society.
These stakeholders include the Commission on Gender Equality, Business Unity South Africa and AgriSA.
For inquiries or interviews with the chairperson, please contact:
Mr Mava Lukani
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8738
Fax: 021 403 3931
Cell: 072 589 9355
E-mail: mlukani@parliament.gov.za
Issued by: Parliament of South Africa
13 November 2009
Source: Parliament of South Africa (http://www.parliament.gov.za/live/index.php)
