Summit, Gallagher Estate, Midrand
3 March 2009
Minister of Environment and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk
Other Ministers and Deputy Ministers
Members of executive councils from various provinces
Mayors
Your Excellencies members of the diplomatic corps
Directors-General
Honoured guests
International observers
Ladies and gentlemen
There is a law of nature that states that without food there is no life and
that whereas nature provides human beings and other members of the animal
kingdom with the means to support life, it does not present these means to
support life on a silver platter. Human beings have to work hard acting upon
nature in order to survive.
As human beings act upon nature to produce the means to support life, they
necessarily fashion instruments and equipment to maximise capacity to produce.
This is an ongoing struggle between human beings and nature. It is this
struggle between human beings and nature that has tempered with the balance of
nature and created a situation where some of the resources of nature could be
depleted. This could pose a threat to life itself.
But this ongoing struggle between human beings and nature also is the basis
of the accumulation of knowledge and the understanding of the laws of
nature.
Albert Einstein once said that in the heart of difficulty lies opportunity.
It is only in the context of severe challenges that the human mind is at its
most creative, when it realises the limitations of continuing on the path that
has created the difficulty in the first place, that the search for a new
approach begins in earnest. This is the moment when human beings engage in
struggle to find the opportunity in the heart of difficulty.
It is in pursuit of opportunity, of a new approach, of creative and
sustainable solutions that I open this second National Climate Change
Summit.
Our deliberations at this summit will define the future response of our
nation to this far-reaching and growing global challenge. It is therefore no
surprise that this issue has moved to the top of the government's agenda, along
with many other defining challenges that we face as a country.
This Summit formally launches a process of developing the National Climate
Change Response Policy. In this regard, the Summit will lay a firm foundation
for the policy development process and will also ensure that all stakeholders,
both public and private, are clear on their roles and responsibilities in
shaping this important policy.
At the same time, the outcome of this Summit must resonate globally as South
Africa takes its place at the table with other nations to engage in the complex
negotiations on Climate Change. It is only through coordinated and
comprehensive global action that humanity will effectively deal with this
threat. In the context of the theme "Climate Action Now" the Summit will lay a
firm foundation for developing policy that can be implemented at home and
advocated in international negotiations.
Already, South Africa is playing a pro-active and constructive role in the
multilateral negotiations. Yesterday the Socialist International Commission for
a Sustainable World Society met in Hermanus to hear the Africa's perspectives
on the global negotiations.
The outcome of these negotiations, scheduled to be concluded in Copenhagen
at the end of this year, will have to achieve a delicate balance of interests
that accommodates the concerns and aspirations of developing and developed
countries alike.
We have also been entrusted to host the 17th Conference of the Parties to
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2011.
As you know, Africa is one of the regions least responsible for climate
change, yet it is the most affected and is also the least able afford the costs
of adaptation.
The question we may ask: What does climate change have to do with Africa and
what does it have to do with fighting poverty! According to a report by a
Nigerian scientist, Anthony Nyong, an additional 100 million people will go
hungry by the year 2050 as a result of rising temperatures and lower
rainfall.
From our vantage point, the developmental interests of the African continent
will be foremost at the Copenhagen meeting. The Copenhagen agreement would
therefore need to address, in a fair, effective and inclusive way, the four
building blocks of a future climate regime:
* adaptation to a changing climate;
* mitigation of green house gas emissions;
* transfer of climate friendly technology; and
* financing of all these measures.
Yet, we must realise that this Summit takes place against the backdrop of
another global crisis - the global economic crisis. As with climate change,
this is largely a crisis that is not of our making, but one which, like climate
change, will affect us all, and the poor most. Acting now on climate change
presents the best possibility to overcome the challenges of the global economic
crisis through investment in pro-poor, job creating and sustainable "green
growth".
If the world community does not take decisive action soon, it is the poorest
that will be hardest hit. Poor communities are the innocent bystanders - they
have contributed least to the problem, but will bear the brunt of its
devastating impact.
The experience and perspectives of Africa are central to our deliberations
today. The Congo Basin is home to one of the two remaining forest "Lungs" in
the world with the capability to absorb large amounts of green house gasses.
The importance of nature and environment in our region reinforces the
importance that we place on nature, environment and the land. In order to
emphasise this point I wish to quote from the first African lady to receive the
Nobel Peace Prize, Ms. Wangari Mathai: "For many years I have asked myself,
'What can I do for the Earth?' I want to inspire others to ask that question,
and answer it wherever and whenever they can. My experience has taught me that
individual efforts do matter. However, unless there is political will and
public support around the world, the enormous benefits the environment bestows
on us will be lost. Future generations will pay the price. "
For South Africa, the climate change challenge is therefore not only one of
climate stabilisation, but it is ultimately also about combating poverty,
livelihoods, energy security and sustainable development.
We must act. We owe it to millions of people who will be directly affected:
small scale farmers who have to deal with greater climate uncertainty; small
exporters and large industries that have to meet the requirements of the
markets which are carbon sensitive.
Dealing with climate change requires a coherent and co-ordinated action
involving both developed and developing countries under the leadership of the
United Nations.
We hope that the deliberations of this summit will recommendations that
could form the basis of giving effect to Cabinet's mandate of formulating sound
policy framework for transition to a low carbon economy.
I have no doubt that government's vision and the implementation of this
policy framework will be the best insurance policy future generations will have
against the potentially devastating impact of climate change. And let me add,
the worst impact of climate change can be avoided if the rest of the world take
up the challenge in a similarly serious way. We are therefore looking at
developed countries to take the lead with absolute emission reductions, and to
support the efforts of developing countries in concrete ways.
Whereas developed countries should commit to legally-binding and absolute
emission reduction targets against a fixed base year, developing countries
should make reductions relative to their business-as-usual emission
trajectories, in other words: deviate substantially from baseline.
It is in this context that the South African Government has agreed to a
strategic policy framework for our emissions to peak between 2020 and 2025, and
then stabilise for a decade, before declining in absolute terms towards
mid-century. This will be possible if technology, investment and policy,
identified as key planks in our strategic framework, are brought together into
a coherent strategy.
In terms of the government's decision of July last year, state-led policy
interventions will play a key role, and will need to focus on getting the
economic incentive, investment structure and, where necessary, the legislative
and regulatory framework right while at the same time increasing long-term
research and development spending. We have also made clear our intention to put
an escalating price on carbon, be that through market mechanisms such as a
carbon tax and other regulatory instruments.
We must continue to diversify the energy mix away from coal, whilst shifting
to cleaner coal technologies. We have already set a requirement that all new
coal fired power stations and coal-to-liquid plants must be carbon capture
ready.
In the short-term, we know that we need to dramatically increase our energy
efficiency in order to reduce the pressure on our current electricity
infrastructure and free up energy for new growth. We also know that, as most of
our electricity comes from burning coal, energy efficiency is a win-win
solution that increases our competitiveness whilst reducing our greenhouse gas
emissions.
Simultaneously, we must address the huge adaptation challenges posed by
inevitable climate change. South Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate
change and greater climate variability, and our response in key sectors will
therefore also be discussed over the next three days.
South Africa is committed to making the transition to a low carbon economy,
to following a sustainable development path and striving to meet the Millennium
Development Goals.
At the end of our deliberations we should have a policy that allows each
South African to answer Wanari Mathai's question" What can I do for the
Earth?"
I wish you well in your deliberations and look forward to our continued
engagement on this important issue.
Forward to climate action now!
Issued by: The Presidency
3 March 2009
Source: SAPA
