KwaZulu-Natal climate change awareness roadshow

Build up to COP17

In a bid to spread the message on climate change, global warming and 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17), the Champion MEC for uMgungundlovu District, Ms Ina Cronjé, in collaboration with the Office of the Premier COP 17 Coordinating Office and the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development, engaged more than 3000 people from uMgungundlovu District communities, who assembled at Esidadeni Sports Grounds at Mkhambathini today, on ways to contribute towards efforts to mitigate climate change.

This awareness campaign, by all spheres of government in KwaZulu-Natal, is aimed at acclimatising people from all walks of life in the province with COP17 that will be held in Durban from 28 November 2011 to 9 December 2011, to promote an integrated approach in dealing with climate change, promote reduction of pollution and carbon emissions, and promote sustainable environmental practices.

This build up campaign began with the removal of invasive alien plant species in a nearby Msunduzi River this morning, followed by planting of trees by the community and leadership at kwaNyavu Traditional Administration Centre, culminating with the main event at Esidadeni Sports Grounds.

The community members say they did not know anything about COP17

Speaking to different community members prior and after the event, this is what they had to say:

Ms Namelaphi Mkhize (078 025 6338) from deep rural kwaNyavu area at Mkhambathini, who works for Zibambele (an initiative by the Department of Transport) spoke prior to the event and said that “I don’t know anything about COP17, although I vividly heard about it on radio but I really don’t have a clue what it is about”.

Speaking after the event Namelaphi said that: “I don’t regret coming to this event today because now I have a clear picture of what COP17 is all about. Honestly before the event I thought it was about traffic cops, now it is clear as a snow. Now I know that it starts with me. My input towards this initiative will be to minimise on burning unnecessary fire.

Now that I know the importance of planting trees, I will make sure that I don’t cut them down but I plant them especially the indigenous trees. I wish the upcoming conference all the best. When the MEC Cronjé spoke about recycling used items, she gave me a business idea that from now on wards I am recycling most of what would usually go to my rubbish bin. I will also start to sew doormats with the used plastic bags”. 

Speaking prior to the event a boy learner, Cabangani Majozi (076 110 9048) from Banqobile High School at Sidadeni, he said, “I don’t know what it is all about but I heard about it on TV and radio. However, they did not give clearer details so that we could understand what it is.” Speaking after the event the tune was deferent. He threw down a gauntlet to the team that will be representing South Africa at the conference to do so with caution, bearing in mind that whatever decision the conference will resolve to will have direct impact on what we, as youth, will inherit in few years to come. 

“This is so serious, when I go back home I will tell everyone who was not here to start saving water even the youth at our sports session, I will visit the Department of Agriculture to get indigenous trees so that we can plant them at home and in my area, I will never litter again, I will ensure that my environment is clean. We have to do this for the sake of ourselves and generations to come. I also hope that there are youth representatives in the team that will be engaging on climate change issues. My worry is that old people alone might take decisions that will compromise our future because they do not have much long life to live anyway,” said a particularly bothered Cabangani.

The local traditional leader Inkosi, Skhosiphi Mdluli (072 407 9342) , thanked the provincial government for enlightening his people.

“Now we know that we are part of the world, whatever we do here will have impact to the climate of the whole world. We are so humbled by what our government is doing, we feel like we are belonging. A lot has been said about this COP17 on radio and newspapers, but there is no one who was putting it into perspective for us at the grass root level, as to how it affects us as communities, and just to tell us the role that we can play to minimise risk. I really congratulate who ever who thought of this idea and wish you can also pass on the information to other communities throughout the province.”

Mkhambathini Mayor, Ms Thobekile Maphumulo, said that her council is taking COP17 seriously and would pursue engagements of this nature even after the international conference so that people can get more information on time and to maximise awareness on climate change issues.

MEC Cronjé encouraged people to preserve water which is getting scarce in the country, and reminded them that “if we continue with chopping down our forests and burning fossil fuels, we can expect a temperature rise of 3 to 4°C in South Africa’s coastal regions and 6 to 7°C by 2100, which will severely impact on the variety of our plant and animal life, increased poor health like cholera outbreak (associated with extreme weather conditions, especially in poor high density areas), increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as flooding, fire, storms and drought”

“Rising sea levels could impact negatively on creatures living in the sea or on the communities dependent on the sea, food security and local livelihoods, a shortage of water, lead to widespread joblessness and increased poverty levels; and displacement of people. It is really up to all of us to work together to save tomorrow today,” said MEC Cronjé.