Rt Honourable Lord Deben, President of Globe International
Rt Hon Lord Prescott
Minister Edna Molewa
Honourable Presidents of Globe Chapters
Distinguished Legislators from various country Parliaments
General Secretary of Globe, Mr Adam Matthews
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is an honour for me to welcome this august gathering to Cape Town, at the foot of Table Mountain, which was recently declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
We meet today, on the 6th day of the Conference of the Parties (COP17), which is also the day of Global Action on Climate Change.
This is the second time that I am honoured to address distinguished legislators affiliated to Globe, the last time being at a gathering in Denmark, just before COP 15.
I understand that participants are scheduled to visit Robben Island on Sunday. This UNESCO World Heritage Site now stands as a place dedicated to the indomitable strength of the human will to fight against oppression. It is a monument dedicated to real life heroism and a source of inspiration to all of us that human spirit can triumph over any adversity.
We, are of course, most delighted that the leadership of GLOBE chose Cape Town, the seat of our Parliament, to convene this important conference.
This conference provides the world’s Parliaments with the opportunity to think through our response to the global threat that climate change presents, build consensus and map a way forward for ourselves as legislators entrusted with the oversight of our respective governments.
The participation of so many Parliaments at this conference is testimony to the invaluable role that Globe continues to play as one of the leading voices for progressive ideas globally on climate change and the need for sustainable development.
We meet at a time when the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban, is underway in earnest.
Delegates at the Conference of the Parties (COP17) carry a heavy responsibility requiring urgency, determination and leadership to address the many life changing challenges that climate change presents.
There is an expectation that COP17 should be an important step in the collective quest of the international community to deliver on a global and multi –lateral climate change regime.
Mr President
Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. It is one of the most if not the most significant economic, environmental and strategic challenge confronting the world.
Indeed, climate change impacts on poverty, on health, on jobs, on the daily survival of people. Climate change is becoming the main restraint on development, reversing the significant progress being made towards achieving our developmental goals such as the Millennium Development Goals.
Recent extreme weather events from massive droughts in the Horn of Africa, to record tornadoes in the United States, floods in Pakistan and Thailand and wildfires in Brazil, all bringing tragic loss to millions of people, bear witness to the impact of climate change.
A few days ago, at COP17, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) sounded a warning, as their report pointed to the fact that the thirteen hottest years on record all occurred in the last fifteen years. The report also pointed out that 2011 tied as the tenth warmest year on record.
The global insurance company Munich Re-insurance estimates, that, in 2010 there were more than 950 natural disasters, 90 percent of which were weather related, costing billions ($130 billion).
The costs of inaction are mounting daily. The planet cannot afford many more delays.
The Cancun Agreements adopted by the Conference of the Parties (COP16) last year represent a critically important step forward in the development of the climate regime. The Cancun Agreement forms the basis for the largest collective effort the world has ever seen to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Under this Agreement, all developed countries and a large group of developing countries anchored their emission reduction targets and action within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) process.
Importantly, the agreements include the most comprehensive package ever agreed by Governments to assist developing nations deal with climate change.
This encompasses an agreement to mobilise 100 billion US dollars per annum by 2020, as well the creation of three institutions; the Green Climate Fund, a technology mechanism to help spread the use of clean and adaptation-related technologies, and an adaptation committee to coordinate adaptation action and capacity building support.
South Africa has aligned itself to the Africa common position on climate change. To consolidate the African agenda for a just and equitable solution to climate change, the region continues to be led and represented by one delegation.
Africa is arguing for a climate regime based on the recognition that solving the problem of climate change will only be possible, if it is undertaken within the context of developing countries’ priorities of achieving poverty eradication and sustainable development.
The African common position emphasises the importance of a comprehensive, fair and legally binding agreement with equal prioritisation of mitigation and adaptation.
The approach to reach a balanced, fair and credible outcome in Durban must therefore be informed by the principles that form the basis of the UNFCC climate change negotiations.
These principles include multilateralism, environmental integrity, fairness, based on common but differentiated responsibilities, and respective capabilities and equity.
Africa has called for the Cancun Agreements to be operationalised, including the establishment of key mechanisms and institutional agreements agreed to in Cancun.
While Cancun brought multilateral negotiations ‘back on track’, many of the difficult questions remain to be resolved in Durban.
The Kyoto Protocol is a cornerstone of the climate change regime. Given that the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol ends next year, a resolution of the second commitment period has loomed large in the Durban climate talks.
As Africa, we hold the view that a second term of the Kyoto Protocol is essential in enhancing the ambition of developed countries.
It is the only legally binding treaty we have covering climate change and it puts the onus on the developed nations to stop doing more damage to the atmosphere,while helping developing countries adapt to the devastating impacts they have not caused.
In the event that the Durban climate talks do not conclude with any deadline for a legally binding treaty, essentially, the world will be left with a voluntary ‘pledge and review’ system, where countries make voluntary commitments that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change periodically reviews against the science of climate change.
Now is the time for all stakeholders to take the long view, looking beyond national borders, and national interests, uniting to do everything possible and necessary to resolve the unfolding challenges before us.
Mr President
While Africa has contributed the least to historic greenhouse gas emissions globally, it stands to be the hardest hit by the effects of climate change.
Climate change is affecting many parts of the continent causing drastic reduction in agricultural productivity while exposing its people to water stress, droughts and floods.
Addressing climate change is therefore a life and death issue and Africa requires substantial financial resources to adapt to the unavoidable consequences of climate change.
The current models of financing do not match Africa’s climate change priorities. With approximately eighty percent of all climate finance directed to mitigation, adaptation, which is a priority for Africa, remains grossly underfunded.
Africa’s interest in the climate finance discussions therefore goes beyond the Green Climate Fund.
Africa has called for climate finance to be predictable, sustainable, adequate and additional to the development aid it currently receives. Also, the sources and scale of finance, are central to the discussion on climate finance for developing countries.
Africa’s position, as stated by the African Group of Negotiators, is that the majority of funding should come from public rather than private sources of finance.
The Africa common position also stresses the importance of detailed and comprehensive information on fast start financial flows provided by developed countries, which should be made available officially.
It is our hope that by delving deep into the issues that affect Africa’s access to climate finance, we begin to explore “win-win” financing solutions that reduce vulnerability to climate change and contribute to the broader economic development of the continent.
President Zuma noted in his opening address to the Conference of Parties (COP17) in Durban:
“It is clear that without financing, including for technology development and transfer and capacity building, the extent to which developing countries Parties will be able to effectively implement their commitment under the Convention will be directly affected”.
Commitments that Africa seeks from the international community and also the actions that countries can take themselves, is based on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibility for global warming and climate change.
As a responsible global citizen, South Africa is contributing its fair share to the global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
At Cop15, in Copenhagen, we voluntarily committed to reduce our carbon emissions by thirty four percent in 2020 and by forty two percent in 2025, this being contingent on the financial, technological and capacity building support from developed countries.
We are making progress on this undertaking.
South Africa’s economic policy, called the New Growth Path Framework, includes comprehensive green economy interventions, including an ambitious focus on renewable energy and the promotion of green industries.
Earlier this month, our government concluded a landmark Green Economy Social Accord, in Parliament. This agreement involving government, trade unions, and the business community commits to creating 300 000 new jobs by 2020.
Our government is also in dialogue and partnership with many countries on the continent to explore further opportunities for the development of the green economy.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of South Africa, have an agreement in place, called the Grand Hydro Electricity Project, for the construction of a dam that will provide electricity to more than half of Africa’s population.
Our government is also working with our neighbour, the Kingdom of Lesotho, to generate hydro and wind energy sources though the Lesotho Highlands project. We are also collaborating with Mozambique on renewable energy projects.
Change and solutions are possible.
The South African Parliament, has taken bold steps in support of development and climate change.
We have done this in multiple ways in our daily parliamentary work. This includes amongst others:
- Through the mainstreaming of climate change into the work of all Portfolio Committees;
- Awareness and advocacy training for members of Parliament and staff;
- National consultative seminars bringing together key stakeholders, in government and civil society;
- Ongoing engagement with government;
- Scrutiny of departmental budgets;
- Development of a toolkit on climate change;
- Debates, questions and Member Statements and;
- The building of partnerships with civil society.
Whatever is happening within the negotiations, and whatever the outcome might be, the reality of climate change is stark and the failure of governments to deliver the necessary measures does not change the science that calls for urgent measures.
Parliaments have a key role to play in ensuring that our governments take the urgent measures necessary to address climate change.
The economic and social transformation needed for a 2 degree Celsius ceiling is nothing short of an energy revolution.
This entails a wide range of changes, from behavioural changes, to changing national policies and investment directions at levels never experienced before, going far beyond the current Kyoto Protocol. As Parliaments we must ensure that we are at the centre of the dialogue on climate change.
We must ensure that our governments where possible align national policies with climate friendly frameworks that are evolving at international level, in particular to support the implementation of clean energy initiatives. This is a fundamental component of attracting investment in clean technologies.
We must also take the necessary steps to continuously sharpen our oversight capacity, as this is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal to keep our governments accountable to the promises they have made.
Let us also mobilise the entire society to take the work on climate change forward. Leadership should not be confined to politicians alone - business, academia, civil society and individuals must do their part – as we are all in this together.
Mr President
Notwithstanding the challenges, we remain confident that COP17 can be another step forward on the road to a full climate change regime.
Time is running out, action is needed now.
The longer we postpone, the more expensive and painful it will be to take the action needed to protect the people of the world and to save our planet.
We have a moral and ethical duty to ensure that we do not stand idly by while the fabric of our humanity and our planet unravels.
Once again a very warm welcome to South Africa!
I thank you!
