Issues of Gender and Climate Change were set out in the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) Policy document “No Gender Equality without an Earth to Have It On” which was adopted by the Poverty Committee in January 2008 which was also incorporated in the Strategic Plan 2008/13. The CGE developed a position on renewable energy which was submitted to National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) in December 2009.
In preparation for COP17 which will be held in December the CGE proposes to host Gender and Climate Change dialogues. Engagements with the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Gender and Climate Change (Gender CC-Women for Climate Change) have taken place. The engagement yielded partnership which strives to bring together organisations working in the field of gender and climate change.
On completion of the dialogues, the following is expected:
- The CGE will be able to present a position at a national platform to the National government
- The CGE will intervene effectively in the construction of a National Climate change Response Act
- The CGE will be able to effectively monitor the representation of this position by the South African government at the COP17 negotiations
To achieve the above the CGE held eight consultative provincial dialogues during the months of July and August 2011, hence resulting in the culmination of the National Climate Change Dialogue at Floreat Hall on the 12 October 2011 from 08h00 to 15h00.
This dialogue will inform policy development and legally binding agreements, it would be imperative to invite stakeholders who will be able to assist in crafting recommendations for policy changes.
The specific outcomes of the provincial dialogues are:
- To bringing together stakeholders to discuss the impact of climate change on the environment.
- To identify good practices and information gaps in climate change policies.
- To determining how South Africa will be represented at COP 17 in December 2011.
- To determine how will people’s lives and livelihoods change as a result of climate change
- To coordinate information exchange on climate policies and issues, amongst civil society organisations and with other interested parties.
- To formulate policy options and position papers on climate related issues.
- To undertake further collaborative action to promote effective involvement in efforts to avert the threat of global warming.
- To initiate civil society capacity building and public awareness raising to promote government and individual action, to limit human-induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels and develop capacity to adapt to climate change.
Possible stakeholders for provincial dialogues:
- Department of Environmental Affairs
- Department of Minerals and Energy
- Department of Water Affairs
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- South African Weather Services
- Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research
- South African Environmental Observation Network
- Green Peace
- Water Research commission
- Earthlife SA
- Eskom
CGE provincial details for climate change (cop17) dialogues:
Province: Free State
Venue/Area: Floreat Hall
Date: 12 October 2011
Time: 8h00 to 15h00
Enquiries:
Javu Baloyi
Cell: 083 579 3306
