10 February 2006
Under the leadership of provincial Minister Tasneem Essop, the Department of
Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP), in partnership
with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) will bring
together various stakeholders at the National Botanical Gardens in Kirstenbosch
on Monday and Tuesday to work towards a Provincial Climate Change strategy and
action plan.
South Africa is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. The South African Country Study on
Climate Change, carried out in the late 1990s, identified the Northern and
Western Cape provinces as being most at risk from projected climate
change-induced warming and rainfall change. The future climate of the Western
Cape is likely to be one that is warmer and drier than present, according to a
number of current model projections. A future that is warmer and drier will
include a range of consequences that will affect the economy, the livelihoods
of people and the ecological integrity of the Western Cape.
Provincial Minister of Environment, Planning and Economic Development,
Tasneem Essop, who will open the seminar on Monday at 8.30, said: "We are
already starting to experience the impacts of Climate Change in the Western
Cape. Water, fire and energy have been critical issues affecting the Province.
We have clearly seen the impact Climate Change can have on our communities,
economy, job creation and our efforts to alleviate poverty.
As a Department we need to provide leadership in developing a strategy and
action plan that can address adaptation and mitigation measures against the
impact of Climate Change. This seminar will provide a critical basis for the
Western Cape Government to develop such an action plan and strategy."
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) has developed a
National Climate Change Strategy, and currently has an initiative to draft a
National Climate Change Action Plan to give effect to the national
strategy.
The provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development
Planning's recently commissioned report; "A Status Quo, Vulnerability and
Adaptation Assessment of the Physical and Socio-Economic Effects of Climate
Change in the Western Cape" lays out possible scenarios for climate change and
follows with an assessment of the impacts and vulnerabilities because of the
projected changes.
A significant next step is to prioritise future climate change risks and to
decide what adaptation measures taken now will have the most impact in the
future in avoiding or coping with the potentially negative effects of the
projected climate change in the Western Cape. The ability to assess these and
implement them successfully will facilitate the achievement of a sustainable
future in this Province. It is the intention of the Department to commission a
Provincial Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. Provincial and local
government will be obliged to give effect to appropriate actions within their
sphere of influence.
The first day of the seminar is intended to give delegates an introduction
to climate change by South African experts in different disciplines. The second
day will be a series of workshops where experts will be asked to prioritise
climate change risks and identify options and responsibilities for climate
change mitigation and adaptation, and identify gaps and opportunities. The
outcomes of the workshop sessions will be used to inform the terms of reference
(TOR) for the drafting of a 'Western Cape Climate Change Strategy and Action
Plan'.
The target audience for the seminar includes: Provincial and municipal
planners; policy and decision makers; Environmental; Land use; Agricultural;
Water and other resources; Energy; Disaster Management authorities; Private
sector EIA and planning practitioners; Public health practitioners; Climate
Change; Biodiversity and Sustainable livelihoods researchers; climate change
specialists; Business; Agriculture and scientists.
Enquiries:
Ms Mureda Hougaard
Cell: 083 942 5522
Lynnette Johns
Media Liaison Officer
Tell: (021) 483 3915 or 2769
Fax: (021) 483 6081
Cell: 083 3100 113
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs, Western Cape Provincial
Government
10 February 2006
