Hon Chairperson, hon members, fellow South Africans, sometimes they stand in the searing heat of the summer sun; sometimes they bear the brutal icy winter wind, holding banners, gripping placards, raising them as high as the skies can allow and doing everything in their power for the world to hear their voices. Their message stands in unison and it is clear to the country's leaders. Act now! They are the activists, the change makers, the citizens of our country, the future of the world. They want solutions; they want action. And it is about time we made things happen. They are the youth of our country. They are the youth of the world. They are not protesting. They are not asking. They are fighting against their future being cancelled.
It is time to get real about climate change. It is time to face the truth. What are those truths? The truth, in simple layman's language, is that we are experiencing global warming. The earth's temperature is rising due to the emissions of greenhouse gasses, with various negative and devastating impacts on the environment and climate of the world as we got to know it. Climate change implies
rising temperatures, rising sea levels, droughts, floods, fires, health risks, natural disasters, and impacts on food security, agriculture and poverty, just to name a few.
South Africa has a few dire challenges - poverty, inequality, unemployment, limited economic growth, an economic recession, as well as a lack of investment interest. On top of this, we are also experiencing some of the impacts of climate change such as droughts, flooding, fires and compromised ecological systems.
However, we as the people living on this earth have a responsibility to address global warming and the consequent climate change impacts. We do not have a choice to do nothing. We must manage our risks through mitigation and adaptation via responsible and innovative transition processes.
We all know that the main driver of the world's effort to address global warming and climate change is the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change. We all know about the Conference of the Parties, Cops. Focus has been on the importance of a balance between climate finance for mitigation, which is the reduction of human emissions of greenhouse gases, and adaptation to change society's resilience to climate change.
The Paris Agreement was signed by 195 countries. South Africa was one of them. As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, South Africa, for example has six nationally determined contributions to reduce greenhouse emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
As part of the national climate change mitigation system, the Department of Environmental Affairs has developed sector emission targets, Sets. Regulations on a variety of issues affecting the environment, and as such climate change, have been promulgated, for example the National Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting Regulations. A Carbon Tax Bill was passed in 2019. Draft regulations on this Bill were published earlier this year.
The further importance of the Paris Agreement is the acceptance of the need to increase adaptation support for parties most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The then Department of Environmental Affairs gazetted the draft National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy on 6 May 2019, to enhance adaptation capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability.
We need action by everyone. Climate change strategies, goals and interventions should be streamlined and integrated into all government departments, spheres of government, corporations,
businesses, nongovernmental organisations, NGOs, and civil society. We must change our behaviour. It is too expensive not to move forward. We already pay climate tax if we consider just the financial costs of disasters such as flooding, fires and drought.
The Western Cape's Climate Change Response Strategy, WCCCRS, second biannual monitoring and evaluation report of 2017-18 indicates that South Africa's legislation and policy instruments for disaster risk reduction, which includes early-warning systems, are one of the best in Africa as it adopted a proactive rather than a reactive approach.
The Disaster Management Act of 2002, as well as the National Disaster Management Framework, guides disaster reduction management implementation in South Africa. The Disaster Management Amendment Act of 2015 specifically refers to climate change adaptation, ecosystem-based adaptation and community-based adaptation measures and investments required by all tiers of government.
Greenhouse gasses are the result of human development and various sectors contribute to it to a greater or lesser extent. We all know that the burning of coal and consumption of fossil fuels, thus the energy generating sector, contributes massively to greenhouse gases in South Africa.
The solution to reduce a remarkable percentage of greenhouse gases is to add renewable energy to our mix of energy sources. Experience from First World countries such as Germany teaches us that the transmission process from fossil fuels to renewable energy is not simple and could impact on enough energy supply. In South Africa we already have a problem with not enough energy supply, relying mainly on coal. The need for transition to include renewable energy now is clear to everyone. Or should I say everyone, including the President of the country, who pronounces it from every possible platform. However, the crucial measure is the action that needs to follow. Renewable energy does not only address the impact of climate change but creates new economic opportunities and jobs.
The Global Risks Report by the World Economic Forum defined environmental risks amongst the top risks to the globe in terms of the impact of climate change. The latest report of the SA National Biodiversity Institute, which evaluates the progress and shortcomings in conservation and ecosystem management on both land and sea, indicated major pressures on habitat loss, changes to freshwater flow, pollution, invasive alien species and the overuse of some species.
Minister Creecy herself said the most concerning issue of this report is the state of our freshwater ecosystems, rivers, wetlands, estuaries and freshwater fish stock. We need to address the impact of climate change on our scarce water resources. South Africa is already experiencing water usage crises. Cape Town's day zero crisis was part of the devastating impact of one of the most severe droughts we ever had. We did not have a choice other than to move forward, adjust our behaviour and water consumption, as well as research, innovate, integrate and co-operate at all spheres of government, business and civil society, to prevent such a crisis in the future.
A report of the Carbon Disclosure Project highlights a few concerns about specific industries in South Africa. One of the conundrums is the demand for water supply in the mining industry versus the demand for water supply to the surrounding communities. The cost of reuse and post-use water treatment technology raises the overall production costs of mining and might jeopardise much-needed jobs.
Our challenge is on how to protect our water catchment areas, our rivers and the rest of our freshwater ecosystems to ensure that the next generation will have fresh water as a natural resource.
However, we have hope. Fortunately, some work has been done on various levels and by various role-players, including all spheres of government, NGOs, corporations and businesses. I am going to share some examples of that hope that has worked in the Western Cape, and I know that there are other provinces that have initiatives tailored to their environmental needs.
One of the critical aspects of the Western Cape's climate change resilience strategy is that the implementation is the responsibility across the whole of the provincial government and all associated stakeholders. The key priorities must be mainstreamed directly into sector policies, strategies and plans. A focus area of the Western Cape is to create an enabling environment for economic growth through resource resilience that focuses on climate change resilience, energy security, water security, waste management and the waste economy.
Some of the projects that are yielding success rates are a SmartAgri Plan, including the Fruit Look project that supports farmer's ability to increase water use efficiency without compromising production. The Berg River Improvement Plan is based on a Water Stewardship Programme that recognises the river as a vital ecosystem that needs to be maintained for its value to the green economy. The
removal of alien invasive species contributes to the increased availability of clean water. The Western Cape's Biodiversity Plan has a handbook to support decision makers.
Another big part of our hope is the youth of our country who are taking real proactive action in doing what is in their power to fight the threat to our existence. In the gallery right now we have two young climate change activists doing everything in their power to combat climate change. Zoe Prinsloo started her own eco-friendly distribution business, called Save a Fishie, in August 2018. You can give her a hand please. {Applause.] In 2019, she was a delegate to the UN Youth Climate Summit. In addition to this, Zoe has been a speaker at the Leadership for Conservation in Africa, LCA, Spark Talks in July 2019 - the eco-friendly equivalent of Ted Talks. She has led the regional Earth Day beach cleanups for girl guides for the past three years and was an attendee at the Eden Festival of Action in 2019, helping to plant 5 000 trees.
We also have Akhona Xotyeni in the gallery. Akhona is a member ... A hand for Akhona please. [Applause.] Akhona is a member of the climate change working group which contributed a youth statement to the Cop 25 delegation last year. Apart from being a Global Peace Chain Ambassador, Akhona has served on panels at the Partnership for
Action on Green Economy, Page, Ministerial Conference, the European Roundtable on Climate Change and the EU-SA Climate Action Summit, and is a former World Wildlife Fund, WWF, International Earth Hour ambassador and Bali Model UN delegate.
I want all of us to look up there at these young South Africans. I want all of us to realise we are responsible for the state of the environment right now. We have a moral obligation as the older generations of our time to ensure there is still a world left for their generation. With just the achievements and work of Zoe and Akhona combined, they have done more than any of us here will probably do with the rest of our lives. However, that is no excuse. No-one has an excuse to take some sort of proactive measures to fight this reality and save the only planet we know and will ever know in this lifetime. Let's beat the past and build the future through addressing climate change in every way possible. I thank you. [Applause.]
As we call on the Eastern Cape to come forward, let us welcome the Minister of Environment, Fisheries and Forestry. [Applause.] Welcome Minister.
Hon Chairperson of the NCOP, hon members of the NCOP and the honoured guests, I bring you revolutionary greetings from the people of the Eastern Cape, the home of legends. Thank you for inviting us to this important debate on responding to the urgency to combat the reality of climate change.
This is an important debate for us in the Eastern Cape given the impact the reality of climate change has in communities, particularly those that have inadequate infrastructure to respond to natural disasters. We are also one of the provinces that are dealing with the devastating drought situation as a result of climate change. As stated by the United Nations secretary- general, "Science is telling us that the impacts of climate change are happening now, and faster than we had predicted. This is becoming increasingly evident in our daily lives." We are therefore delighted to see the NCOP taking interest in debating this matter and we hope that we will come of this sitting with a more coherent and co-ordinated approach to combat the impact of climate change.
As the Eastern Cape government, we are committed to achieving the 1,5C bound as the socially, economically, politically and scientifically safe limit to global warming by the end of this
century, and the net zero emissions target by 2050 as the global long-term climate objective for all.
In light of the above, the report by the 2019 Climate Action Summit directed countries to urgently accelerate work to define what this entails for the short-term 2020 and midterm 2030 commitments that will be captured in their nationally determined contributions and ensure the alignment of strategies to meet those commitments.
Hon Chairperson, we must agree that the existing social order has not addressed the challenges faced by societies across the globe. We must agree that the urge for wealth accumulation and profit maximisation driven by greed and at the expense of our environment is not sustainable and is the reason why we are still grappling with the problem of emissions that pollute our environment and lead to the devastating impacts of heavy rains, storms and other related natural disasters.
Hon members, we must agree that we will continue to debate the reality of climate change and struggle to address it unless we work towards achieving a more just, equitable and people centred social order where production is according to need. We need to confront global leaders to ensure that the decisions they take are in the
interest of many generations to come. We need to address the problem of big corporations that continue to destroy our environment to maximise profits at all costs. While a few continue to accumulate wealth through destructive productive activities on our environment, our societies continue to accumulate problems such as natural disasters.
Hon members, during the state of the province address, our Premier, the hon, Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane acknowledged that our province is one of the most disaster prone areas in the country and that's what we witnessed in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality was unfortunate and that our government will continue to offer relief to distressed communities. We must welcome the commitment by the Department of Environmental Affairs to ensure that there are adequate instruments to improve efficiency and effectiveness of environmental impact assessment systems across the country. These will include development of environmental management frameworks where certain areas are identified as critical development areas with increasing development pressures.
We also welcome the department's commitment to initiate the development of regulations to legislate the creation of strategic environmental assessments and the development of a strategic
environmental management framework for energy applications, specifically renewable energy applications. Hon Chairperson, our province agrees with the 2012 Rio+20 Earth Summit outcomes which, amongst others identified the green economy, in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and the institutional framework for sustainable development as part of the strategy for achieving the efforts of climate change mitigation. We also agree with the five strategic objectives identified in the National Strategy for Sustainable Development and Action Plan, NSSD, which are: Enhancing systems for integrated planning and implementation; sustaining our ecosystems and using natural resources efficiently towards a green economy; building sustainable communities; and responding effectively to climate change through various interrelated and enabling interventions that promote sustainable development.
We must invest in infrastructure development, especially in areas in the country that were largely affected by apartheid spatial patterns of development, such as the Eastern Cape, which is largely a rural province, with a significant population living in remote rural areas. We therefore welcome and support the establishment of the infrastructure fund and improved investment in the municipal social
infrastructure, announced by the President as part of the stimulus and recovery plan.
Hon members, as we know that the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, the hon Gwede Mantashe has published the Integrated Resource Plan for implementation. Amongst other things, the plan stresses the importance of pursuing a diversified energy mix and the need for new investments to be made in more efficient coal technologies to comply with climate and environmental requirements. As part of our commitment to use renewable technologies to diversify the electricity mix, produce distributed generation and provide off grid electricity, we will ensure that we support and make full use of the new wind projects that have been developed in the Eastern Cape.
Lastly, as the province, we are committed to providing support to smallholder farmers by, amongst others, building their resilience to climate shocks and stresses. We want small-scale producers to adapt their farming systems, livelihoods and landscapes to be more resilient to climate.
We will work to ensure that small-scale producers have expanded access to insurance, markets, finance, and productive safety nets, and the use of adaptation technologies and agroecological practices.
As the home province of legends, we want to assure you that the Eastern Cape government will support efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and ensure that we achieve the goal of having more sustainable and environmentally friendly development practises.
Once again, thank you for inviting us to be party to this debate, and we hope that we can all work together to overcome the climate crisis and building a better Africa and a better world. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon members, fellow South Africans, climate across the world is changing, and the truth is, humans are responsible.
The planet has slowly become warmer, more specifically between the years 1880 and 2012. Land and surface temperatures show an increase of approximately 1,1C and current temperatures are rising at about 0,2C per decade. While most of us have acknowledged this fact, it seems we have no will, whether personal or political, to act and start fixing it.
The biggest cause of climate change is carbon emissions, and as we continue to burn fossil fuels, the intensity of rainfalls will
increase, leading to increased floods; the sea levels will rise, leading to flooding in coastal areas; heatwaves in tropical regions will claim more lives and make humans less productive, and ultimately climate change is expected to push a 100 million more people towards poverty.
So, what does an ever-increasing warmer planet mean to all of us?
According to the Paris Agreement that was signed in December 2015 by the United Nations and 195 governments across the world, South Africa being one of them: the aim is to reduce carbon emissions and in turn limit the warming of the earth 1,5C. If this can be achieved, we will reduce the probability of droughts and risks related to water availability.
In South Africa, and especially the Northern Cape, we have seen extreme cases of drought so much so that it has now been declared a national emergency.
As the earth warms it will affect our biodiversity and ecosystems where it is estimated that 105 000 insects, plants and vertebrates will become extinct.
Have you noticed that the bee population in your area has already declined? Have you noticed that forest fires have increased as we have seen in Australia, the Amazon and here in South Africa?
As the earth warms, climate-related risks to human life will become more severe. Risks to human health, livelihoods, food security, water supply and economic growth will all increase.
We face an existential crisis which is a threat to human existence and those who will be the most affected are currently disadvantaged and current vulnerable populations on earth.
In our very unequal world there are 7,5 billion people, 1,2 billion have little or no access to electricity, about 3 billion cook on open fires, 4 million die from indoor smoke inhalation, mostly women; and these are the very same people who will be more susceptible to climate related poverty risks.
Heat related illnesses and mortality will increase, and this will affect mostly the elderly, children, women and those with chronic diseases.
Diseases like malaria will flourish in the heat. Food security is at risk because crops like maize, rice and wheat will be smaller due to droughts and water shortages.
We are currently experiencing the warmest temperature in more than
1 100 years. However, only a few of us think it will affect us personally. Even worse, the media does not talk about it, people do not talk about it and certainly it is not sufficiently discussed and debated in schools.
So, how can we break the cycle and non-complacency? Simply by talking about it, to begin with. Let's all start talking from the heart and why it matters. We all have families, children and loved ones. Let's take a moment and think about the activities we enjoy, perhaps you enjoy hiking, swimming, walking in nature. God gave us responsibility over the earth and so we need to think about our values, our daily activities and why we should care and care more about climate change.
It can no longer be business as usual.
So how do begin the process of reversing global warming? By starting small. And as hon Labuschagne said, we have a moral obligation towards our future generations.
To begin with, let's recycle more; you can save 1 100 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year by recycling your household waste.
Check your car tyres; keeping them properly inflated will improve petrol mileage and reduce carbon dioxide.
Use less hot water by taking cooler showers; that will save
226 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year.
Avoid products with a lot of packaging and you can save
544 kilograms of carbon dioxide, if you reduce your waste by only 10%.
Don't use plastic, where possible, and you certainly don't need to drink that beverage with a straw. Plant one tree a month, it will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
Turn off electronic devices when not using them. Try to cut down on meat consumption, where possible. Don't waste food; perhaps even grow your own. Consume less and waste less.
It all starts with minimal effort such as the suggestions I have just mentioned. But collectively, we can make an exponential difference.
The challenges are profound, but they can certainly be solved. So, more importantly, let's start climate conversations. Let's speak to our children, our family members and loved ones; let's respect the earth. Let's start a movement that cares for our planet and thus preserving it for our future generations. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chair, I greet everybody in this God's place, House, today. We all speak about climate change and what we need to do. But, what do we do as individuals? We are going to town shop centres and we look at images of dinosaurs that have left us behind millions of years ago, how long will be none of us going into shops to even look at an image of a dog. A simple dog that has died out because we as humans have no respect of the land that God has given us. We are on the same route as these animals. We are put here to protect them. I just leave this so that we can think of what will
happen if we do not do something dramatically towards climate change.
Responding to the urgency to combat the reality of climate change. Climate change is already a reality posing significant social, economic and environmental risks and challenges globally, but also poses a serious threat to the planet and people. Like many other developing countries, South Africa is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and has been identified as one of the countries that need to adopt greater urgency in tackling challenges posed by climate change, which is why South Africa has been tasked with ensuring the balance of economic growth and transformation with the sustainable use of environmental resources and responding to climate change.
Responding to the urgency to combat the reality of climate change offers South Africa a clear pathway towards achieving a more prosperous, inclusive, equitable and secure future, in which national priorities of eradicating poverty and reducing inequality will be addressed. Furthermore, my fellow South Africans, the South Africa's National Climate Change Response White Paper and the National Development Plan are aimed at combating and responding to climate change by addressing and observing threats to the country's
society, economy and environment, as well as to provide the basis for tracking South Africa's transition to a climate resilient society and lower carbon economy.
Responding to the urgency to combat the reality of climate change through the development and implementation of a framework for young people for policy input and decision-making on climate change could strengthen and improve youth participation and involvement in climate change related issues.
My friends and my hon Chair, water, and when I mention water I ask myself why there is so many farmers on this land of ours that do not clean out their dams and who are complaining about water shortage. Water is the primary medium through which the impacts of climate change are being felt in South Africa. The Free State, particularly QwaQwa, is experiencing the worst drought in modern history. Increases in climate variability and climatic extremes are impacting both water quality and availability through changes in rainfall patterns, with more intense storms, floods and droughts; changes in soil moisture no control of runoff water; and the effects of increasing evaporation and changing temperatures on aquatic systems.
Simultaneously curbing climate change and responding to the unavoidable impacts of historic greenhouse gas emissions both timorously and continuously, requires substantial and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions which, together with adaptation, can limit climate change risks. Climate change action presents a clear path towards the shared aim of a healthier, more prosperous and more secure future - our future. The wildlife fire situation has worsened significantly across South Africa. During the past several years, there have been major and catastrophic fires which have resulted in death, damage to infrastructure and loss of property and assets. This has also impacted negatively on the natural environment and has come at an enormous direct and indirect social and economic cost to the country.
The Fynbos Biome is defined by South Africa as the most fire vulnerable in the country and is even more prone to climate change related disaster risks from wild land fire. The Fynbos Fire project is a global environment facility funded initiative established in 2012. It is managed by United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and implemented by Landworks through the Department of Environmental Affairs in four rural communities within the Fynbos Biome. The project is aimed at developing sustainable interventions to radically reform the approach to managing wildfires and to implement
strategies to reduce wildfire risks. Firewise community concepts aim to build resilience against destructive unwanted wildfires and focus on preventing damage to people's homes life livelihoods and the landscape surrounding them.
However, I ask you, can we identify or ever read the destruction in the hardship and the bruise that it leaves in the minds of the people it affected? What needs to happen? To address climate change, the current energy system must be overhauled. South Africa is officially committed to a 15% renewable energy target by 2020, but progress on the ground is painfully slow. The current financial crisis should provide an opportunity for all societies to shift to a low carbon economy. The global slowdown is causing job losses and hardship to many, but equally, climate change means that it would be reckless to try to go back to fossil fuel based development pathways that will anyway have to be abandoned soon. This is an opportunity to redevelop economies and create a new industrial revolution that develops and is powered by clean energy technologies. Doing so will create new jobs and a secure future for all that one day we don't be like this.
We calculate that a realistic programme to promote renewable in electricity, biogas, solar heating and biofuels could produce an
extra 1,2 million jobs, direct and indirect, by 2020. That will probably have to change or we will have to move forward. Clean energies also hold out much greater hope that communities that lack electricity from the central grid and who struggle to find fuel for cooking will see their energy needs met. However, getting the policy framework right is critical if we are to realise the potential. With the right framework, both the private sector and new community enterprises will take off and rapidly become a big part of the solution of South Africa's power shortage. The National Energy Regulator, Nersa, is to be congratulated for considering a feed-in tariff scheme to support renewable energy - a tried and tested policy tool. I thank you, hon members. God bless this House. [Applause.] [Time expired.]
Hon Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Minister, hon members and guests in our gallery...
IsiXhosa:
... molweni eMpuma Koloni.
English:
Hon Chairperson, more than half a century ago, we did not have climate change challenges we are experiencing today. The world has
changed a lot since the end of the World War II. The advent of industrialisation has not only made social and economical easier for us. For example, in the medical treatment of some of the deadliest diseases such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and the development of mining, but it has again sadly contributed to destructive climate change patterns.
Indeed climate change is a reality. The urgency of dealing and combating the reality of climate change is upon us all. There is no time to point fingers at each other and accuse one another of not doing anything to reserve the harmful impact of climate change. As the ANC we believe in collectivism and actions orientated towards climate change combat must be informed by our clear conscious collective action. The stakes are the same for all of us; it is either collective environmental security or collective extinction. Do we dare hesitate? No.
Hon Chairperson, section 24 in our Bill of Rights in the Constitution deals with the environment and stipulates that:
Everyone has the right to:
a) To an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and
b) To have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that -
i) prevent pollution and ecological degradation;
ii) promote conservation; and
iii) secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
There can be no doubt amongst us seated today in this House that this is a progressive provision in our Constitution. Chapter 2 of our Constitution deals with human rights and environmental rights are recognised as human rights, and I dare say that without section 24, the right to life contained in section 11 of the Constitution becomes inconceivable. The environment provides all that is necessary for the maintenance and sustainability of life on earth.
In giving effect to section 24, this Parliament has passed enabling legislation, National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act of 2013 in order to ensure the rights contained in the Constitution of the Republic. It is not with misplaced confidence that I stand here before this House and declare, National Environmental Management
Laws Amendment Act as a progressive legislation, not only in the country but globally. This Act promotes co-operative governance and further recognises the importance of economic development. The United Nations, through its organ - the Economic and Social Council, Ecosoc, holds that its member states acknowledge that rising global food and fuel prices, environmental degradation and climate change require an early concerted action.
As a globe, we are faced a catch 22 type like situation. There is an interlinked between the climate change, environmental degradation and sustainable livelihoods. Climate change is caused by environmental degradation caused through human activity in a quest to sustain their livelihoods. We are beginning to source for other sources of sustainable livelihoods without impacting negatively heavy on our environment. This is mainly so because the world has come to a realisation that we have been pursuing an unsustainable development path and strides must be taken to find sustainable model of development that will guarantee us the future.
Hon Chairperson, in giving effect to section 24 (b) of the Constitution, this Parliament will receive the Climate Change Bill, as announced by the President in his state of the nation address. This Bill aims to build the country's effective climate change
response and provide for a just transition to a climate resilient and lower carbon economy and society, within a framework of an environmentally sustainable development. South Africa's just transition to a climate resilient and lower carbon economy and society is clearly articulated in the White Paper on National Climate Change Response.
Cognisant to the fact that ours is to build a prosperous democratic society as that ANC, our approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation response must help address the needs of the poor and the vulnerable sectors of our society. The energy sector contributes about 8% towards total emission and electricity generation is the biggest emitter. The growth of our economy is dependent on electricity generation. Our economy is not doing well and we know how the country's economy is dependent on reliable energy supply. The world energy forces are divided into three: a fossil fuel, nuclear fuel and renewables.
The reality is that our energy generation is dependent of fossil fuel from coal supply. In order to respond to the urgency of combating climate change through mitigation, as the President had announced in his state of the nation address 2020, we will diversify
energy capacity from renewable energy, natural gas, hydro power, battery storage and coal.
The ANC is working towards placing the economy on a qualitatively different path and this requires the stability and security of energy supply. As the organisation we support the Integrated Energy Plan of government which aims, amongst others, to realise the efficient supply of sustainable energy to meet the demands of our growing population and help grow our economy.
It has been reported by government that until to date, a total of
6 422 megawatts under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers programme has been produced, with 3 876 megawatts operational and made available to the grid. We know the positive spins off of renewable energy of reduced carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
As we I close my debate hon Chairperson, as the progressive people's movement, the ANC leadership resolved that:
In the long run South African must attain reliable, lower-cost and lower carbon energy supply to ensure the competitiveness of the economy and to enable job creation and the development of new
industries. We are speaking of green aviation fuel, green steel and green fertilisers and chemicals.
The ANC remains committed to a just and fair world that protects the environment and promote sustainable development. Drawing from our own experience as a 108-year old sustainable liberation movement, we will continue to work closely with international progressive organisation to ensure that we leave behind a legacy of caring and protecting our environment for future generations. I thank you Chairperson.
Hon Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, Hon Members, distinguished guests, I greet you all. As a point of entry to this important festival of ideas or "intellectual wrestling" if you like, we would begin by thanking the ANC and the people of South Africa which have afforded us a space to contribute towards exploring responses to the urgency to combat the reality of climate change.
IsiZulu:
Ukuguquguquka kwesimo sezulu. [Climate change]
English:
It is almost two years since the ANC held its 54th National Conference which was not only a platform to refresh the leadership mandate but the conference also took very clear resolutions aimed at realising the fundamental goals of the ANC. Flowing from the above, international work is one of the pillars of our struggle for progressive and radical change mainly hence the ANC also has an internationalist character amongst others. This therefore means that the ANC is not immune from many serious challenges facing the global village and community. Key amongst many global challenges is the unremitting spread of climate change notwithstanding a variety of initiatives including laws, conferences, treaties, regulations and policies aimed at arresting climate change. The recent re-emergence of tension amongst old international rivals - we know who I am talking about - is contributing towards ensuring that there is a lack of practical actions aimed at dealing with climate change as they have moved out of the Paris Agreement, we know who we are talking about. Key amongst many global challenges is the unremitting spread of climate change.
The attainment of radical economic transformation is strongly dependent on the extent to which growth and development activities will advance principles of environmental sustainability. The depletion of natural resources in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and
the impact associated with the decline in resource quality is of major concern as it threatens the future wellbeing of people and economy. We are cognisant of the unfortunate reality that the poor will be the first to bear the brutal brunt of climate change. Indulge us chairperson as we begin this debate by properly defining the term climate change. Most scholars agree that it refers to, "a change in global or regional climate patterns." This change is, "attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels." The dominant economic paradigm of neoliberal economic growth obsessed with profits before people and environment has largely contributed to climate change. Our government through its progressive legislative framework is steadfast in its resolve to replace neoliberal economic paradigm with one that is more resilient and not obsessed with profits before people and environment. This includes a shift to greater social justice and equity.
In a world characterised by global natural resource depletion and growing social inequality, there is increasingly global agreement on the need for action plans on sustainable development, a concept that forms the cornerstone of a wide variety of global commitments. The South African government has committed itself to the implementation of many of these global agreements, and since the 2002 Johannesburg
World Summit on Sustainable Development has sought to take a global leadership role in this field.
The ANC-led province of KwaZulu-Natal has laid a foundation and set in place structures as well as developed province focused strategic documents aimed towards the implementation of tangible response projects on the ground. This has of course been achieved taking guidance from the 2011 National Climate Change Response Policy as well as the recent National Adaptation Strategy. To date KwaZulu- Natal has reviewed its sector's climate change risk and vulnerability levels from the ones determined in 2009. This work has been guided by national processes that have taken place since 2011. The Provincial Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Implementation Plan guided by the recent vulnerability assessment therefore prioritises the most critical sectors which is, Water resources, Agriculture and Food Security, Marine and Coastal zones, Biodiversity and ecosystems, Human health, Human settlements, Transport and infrastructure as well as Disaster Management.
Similar assessments of risks and vulnerabilities propagated by climate change were also conducted at all the 10 districts of the province with the metro having done so a while ago. The outcomes of these assessments have identified a range of sectors that require
prioritisation at a district level. In agriculture and food security is the promotion of climate smart agricultural practices to be mainstreamed within the agricultural sector. In human settlements ...
IsiZulu:
... akekho ongakhohlwa sibuka komabonakude abantu bakithi bedilikelwa yimizi koMlaza, KwaMashu, Ntuzuma, Mpophomeni, Ntabamhlophe, koZakheni abanye bemuka nezimoto ngalesi sikhathi kufika uzamcolo wesichotho ngesikhathi lina kakhulu izulu ngonyaka ophelile. Uhulumeni wethu kumele usebenze kanzima ukufundisa abantu bakithi ukuthi bangakhi eduze kwemifula nalapho okwakhe kwabakhona amadamu ngoba uma ufika uzamcolo ukhukhula kwasani.
English:
In disaster risk reduction, the capacities of Disaster Risk Management, DRM, units need to be strengthened at all levels. This measure is also a prerequisite for the mainstreaming of DRM measures into municipalities and line departments. The human health adaptation option suggests enhancing the capacity of role-players in the health sector. In light of the recent drought in KwaZulu-Natal, the water resources need an integrated water resources management
approach. This can strengthen water use efficiency and the utilisation of a diverse set of water sources for different uses.
The climate proofing of water infrastructure as well as the protection and rehabilitation of ecological infrastructure should also become an adaptation priority for the sector. The marine and coastal zones need an integrated coastal management approach which focuses on disaster risk reduction, consideration of climate risks in zoning, the climate proofing of coastal infrastructure as well as the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems.
Lastly, the transport and public infrastructure to create more awareness on the effects that climate change will have on transport and public infrastructure amongst the key role-players in the sector. On low emissions, KwaZulu-Natal being one of largest economies in the country, which is developing at a faster pace, it contributes remarkably to greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. KwaZulu-Natal is made up of a number of busiest economic hubs, zones found in Durban, Richards Bay, Pietermaritzburg and Newcastle. These economies are heavily reliant on energy generated from the burning of non-renewable fossil fuels which unfortunately release harmful greenhouse gases and, in particular,
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which has led to global climate change.
IsiZulu:
Abantu abahlala eNingizimu NeTheku abazize ko-Lamontiville, Wentworth, Jacobs, bakwazi kahle ukuguquguquka kwesimo sezulu nokunukubezeka komoya abawuphefumulayo.
English:
The province therefore is working to advance its efforts to monitor and reduce the levels greenhouse gas emissions, mainly focusing on the energy, transportation and waste sector emissions. Currently, the province is working on a Climate Footprint Project. The project was initiated last month and will last until 2021; it involves District municipalities. The main objectives of the project will be to quantify emissions from the sectors identified, through developing a province specific greenhouse gas emission inventory. Through trade and investment we are co-ordinating public and private sector investments in order to maximise growth impact of total investment potential, taking into account the proven potential of investment in sustainable resource use such as renewable energy, energy efficient buildings and local food production and markets.
The province has undertaken a number of initiatives aimed at promoting the integration of cleaner production and eco-efficiency measures with the business units. These include establishing an industrial waste minimisation and promoting cleaner production initiatives in the hospitality and tourism industry in the province. A shift to the ... [Time expired.] I thank you. [Applause.]
Afrikaans:
Agb Voorsitter, agb Minister van Omgewingsake, Bosbeheer en Visserye, agb lede van die NRVP, mede-burgers van Suid- Afrika, ons land, Suid-Afrika, is gesen met natuurlike hulpbronne. Dit is ons almal se verantwoordelikheid om ons omgewing te beskerm. Die regering doen nie genoeg om die boodskap van omgewingsbewaring deur middel van volgehoue projekte en aksieplanne deur te voer nie. Die bewaring van ons planeet is in die belang van die volgende generasie, om te verseker dat hulle ook 'n omgewing kan geniet wat vry van besoedeling is.
English:
The effect of climate change is becoming more evident with frequent occurrences of drought, flooding and diseases. Over the past two decades or so, the country has experienced a number of adverse
climate hazards. The most serious ones have been seasonal drought, intense rainfall and flooding.
Drought and floods have increased and intensified over the past two or three decades. Climate change has adversely impacted on food and water security, water quality, energy and sustainable livelihoods of the most rural communities.
The state must invest in the maintenance of our wetlands, most of which are critically endangered. As a country, we must invest in the protection of our biodiversity in a way that also improves social well-being. We must rethink a future that we are going to bestow on our children - free from carbon emissions, full of sustainable development ideas.
Having said that, the African Climate Reality Project has done an assessment of all political parties' 2019 manifestos against a set of 69 criteria, focusing on environment- and climate-friendly measures.
The EFF has trumped all political parties in terms of its environment and climate change policies. The EFF has been labelled a leader, beating the ANC, DA, Good, UDM, Cope, IFP and the FFP. Given
the effects that climate change will have on our environment, the EFF, in its 2019 election manifesto, made the following commitments to the people of South Africa.
An EFF government will adopt a civil society-driven initiative of
1 million climate jobs, as a government programme. Through this initiative, the EFF will create 1 million jobs aimed at transitioning from coal-based energy sources to renewable energy. [Interjections.]
We must find clean technologies for coal because we have enough coal and if we continue to use it with the current technologies, it will cause more harm. And equally, we cannot afford not to use it.
Deputy Chairperson, will the hon member take a question?
Deputy Chairperson, I don't take a question from Verwoerd. The EFF, with its manifesto, will progressively introduce carbon taxes as one additional tool in the fight for sustainable development. We know that the carbon tax policy was introduced in June 2019. South Africa is one of the highest emitters of carbon dioxide. Carbon tax is designed to make polluters pay and to meet
targets of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide.
Businesses and industries that produce carbon dioxide through their operations must put the people's health and the protection of the environment first, before profit. Too often the solutions are profit-driven. With regard to the independent power producers, IPPs, that are currently running, we do not object to renewable energy sources, but as the EFF, we object to private ownership, at the expense of public entities and the strategic capacity to deliver services to our poor people.
Afrikaans:
Dit is belangrik dat ons gefokus moet wees op die huidige krisisse ten opsigte van klimaatsverandering in die hele land. Ons moet dus almal saamspan, om seker te maak dat ons die nodige doen en seker maak dat ons die klimaatsverandering wat huidiglik plaasvind aanpak.
English:
In order to contribute to tackling climate change, the country has a dual responsibility to honour its international emission reduction commitments, and we therefore note that South Africa's carbon tax came into effect on 1 June 2019.
The EFF is the only party, through its 2019 manifesto, that sets out a 10% target for greenhouse gas emission reduction above the current national trajectory.
Climate change poses a significant threat to South Africa's water resources, food security, health, infrastructure and biodiversity. In a country where many people are poor and where levels of inequality are high, these effects of climate change are critical challenges to development.
The EFF will, through strengthened legislation, ensure that mining companies that have abandoned mines are forced to come back and rehabilitate denuded mining landscapes.
For the past years, mining-affected communities have had their land and environment polluted and degraded, leaving them with very few land use options once mining companies ceased to operate or scaled down its mining activities. Communities have been impacted negatively by those companies.
The EFF manifesto outlines how we will force the mining sector to go green through rehabilitating old mines. All mining companies will
pay for the rehabilitation of mines, which they have abandoned and for the draining of acid water.
South Africa is at a greater risk because of low levels of development and climate change adaptation efforts that aren't on the scale of developed countries.
Global agreements however will not be enough. It must be followed by strong actions on national, provincial and local levels. Managing the impacts of climate change effectively requires a response that builds and sustains the country's social, economic and environmental resilience.
Afrikaans:
Wetenskaplikes bestempel Afrika as een van die kwesbaarste vastelande vir klimaatsverandering. Die onlangse droogtes en ho temperature is n aanduiding dat Afrika-lande saam moet werk om te verhoed dat die gemiddelde temperatuur nie meer as 1,5C styg nie.
Uiteraard is daar rede om bekommerd te wees oor die grootskaalse besoedeling van lug, grond en water en die mens se invloed op die klimaat.
Dit is die armes wat die swaarste kry, omdat hulle van hul rykdom ontneem is en nou in plakkerskampe moet probeer oorleef. Hulle is die mense wat die juk dra van die klimaat- en brer ekologiese krissise.
English:
We must stand very firm in our position against global power bullying. We must make a clear statement that the United States of America cannot continue to work against everyone else, and in doing so compromising the efforts of everyone to deal with climate change. Thank you.
Order, hon members. I didn't know hon Mathevula understands Afrikaans. Next speaker is the hon Bara.
Deputy Chairperson, Chairperson of the NCOP, hon members and Minister, good afternoon. I think it is important to start by saying that we cannot change the course of climate change but we can lessen and mitigate the impact thereof.
The eighth secretary general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, once said: "Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty,
advancing economic growth ... these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women's empowerment."
The rise of temperatures has nearly doubled in the last 50 years. Extreme rainfall events have increased in frequency in arbitrary locations.
In a country with high inequality, climate change poses profound challenges to development. It poses a threat to our water resources, food security, health, infrastructure and ecosystem services.
South African researchers and academics put it emphatically that climate change is no longer purely an environmental problem but a developmental problem.
Rising temperatures will shorten winter seasons which benefit potential diseases carrying agents, enabling them to spread even further. Abundance of water through floods brings more water quantitatively but quality of such water poses risks for human consumption. This also affects the poorest of the poor because people in less affluent areas are displaced, and some lose their lives in the process.
Climate change is a threat multiplier that intensifies the existing political, social, economic and environmental problems in communities are already facing more of those. We are a country with huge research capacity in our universities, scientists and various agents who can advise government on what needs to be done.
Researchers identified key vulnerable areas to focus on: Water, agriculture, health to mention but a few. In agriculture, staple crops such as maize are affected because of the need for irrigation. This is as a result of drier conditions from less rain than normal. How does the government miss out on this reality when this information is at its disposal? Food security is at the core of the negative impact of climate change. The government must ensure that farmers, small and big, must be cushioned against this reality.
As climate change intensifies, water becomes a very scarce commodity that must be used sparingly. South Africa has efficient weather service institutions that can provide diligent advice. There is a need to embark more on desalination projects so we can benefit from our ocean water.
Let advocacy campaigns on sound water usage be a continuous subject as opposed to reacting when our backs are against the wall. The
government should be proactive and not react after the effect all the time.
High temperatures due to climate change do affect workers in farms with ailments like heat stress. Heavy rainfall and drought do affect people's health as well. Food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition are also prevalent as a result of climate change.
Some farmers can't take the distress of losing their livestock and crops as a result of either drought or floods. Stress or depression often consumes them and they end up taking their own lives. It is therefore imperative that disaster management and relief are readily on standby to assist without a loss of valuable time.
Peter Johnston from the University of Cape Town states that any mitigation on the farming sector requires concerted effort from government, agri- business and financial institutions. Tanaka Manungo of University of Cape Town concedes that: "The inability of government to respond effectively to climate change challenges leads to a reduction in how people view government legitimacy, fragmenting the social contract."
It is necessary for the linkage between climate change, instability and tensions to be much better understood in order to ensure more sustainable approaches to consolidating peace and reconciliation in South Africa, and ultimately ensure a sustainable environment for future generations. I thank you, Deputy Chair. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Chairperson and hon Chairperson, Minister and all members of the NCOP, allow me to extend my sincere greetings to all of you on this important sitting as we discuss a subject so dear to all of us and so critical in human life more than any time ever before. We today gather here hon Deputy Chairperson, to within the avail of our mental faculties to jointly explore various ways to combat climate change and protect humankind from the long-term possible effect of extinction - a reality posed by this threat of climate challenge.
Hon Deputy Chairperson, in his state of the nation address, President Ramaphosa said in acknowledging the challenges of climate change and I quote, "This is the time when humankind faces its greatest existential threat in the form of climate change".
This acknowledgement by our hon President and the many made by various leaders in many other forums is an important reminder, that
we as today's leaders have a duty to do everything possible within and even beyond our means to combat this challenge of climate change, to safe humanity from possible extinction.
As we meet here today, majority of our people from the length and breadth of our beautiful country look upon us to provide the necessary solutions and interventions.
Hon Deputy Chairperson, these are our people who on daily basis are confronted with the challenges imposed on them by climate change. These are farmers who are experiencing diminishing rainfall in the far rural province of Limpopo; these are farmers who are sadly losing their crops in Mpumalanga province because of raising temperatures.
Hon Deputy Chairperson, these are the farmers who are losing their livestock in the Northern Cape, in the North West province, and the rest of our country due to drought which is a direct consequence of this climate change.
Hon Deputy Chairperson, our people who are in the tourism sector are looking upon us to find the permanent solution to these challenge, they do so because day in, day out they see their sector being on a
possible route to extinction, this they do as they witness the wildlife dying helplessly in their eyes due to drought. They see the tourist attracting flora being ravaged by the diminished rainfall.
They see their river streams that attracted so many visitors to their shores slowly narrowing and shallowing. Here in the Western Cape, in the Eastern Cape and in the beautiful KwaZulu-Natal Natal, they witness the tourist attracting marine life being threatened by the rising sea temperatures.
Hon Deputy Chairperson, our people in the health fraternity knows that unless we combat climate change, their battle of defeating Malaria and other related tropical diseases will remain in vain. They know hon Deputy Chairperson that the future of the health system depends greatly on how much effort we put in combating climate change.
Hon Deputy Chairperson, climate change is a reality in our eyes; it is a reality that threatens everything about and around us. There is no phenomenon that has ever tempered with the ecosystem in the memorable history of humanity than climate change. This impose on us a responsibility indeed hon Deputy Chairperson, to summon all our abilities to this fight.
Much has been said on this matter, much analysis and lot of work produced on this subject, but much still needs to be done. We need to move beyond our words, we need to walk our talk and so must all global leaders.
In her address to the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit which was held in New York, Greta Thunberg, a young Swedish climate change activist cried out that and I quote:
This is all wrong. I should not be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare! You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I am one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are at the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!
She continued and said:
You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are
upon you, and if you choose to fail us, I say: we will never forgive you.
Hon Deputy Chairperson, this echoing words of Greta are as much the words of Ayakha Melithafa and are indeed the words of the many other young people beyond the borders of our country who look upon us to provide direction, they are the words of the many generations who look at us with the fear of betrayal.
We today must say, we refuse to betray you, we must say we will take the lead in the course of fighting against climate change. This we must do for it is a noble course of humanity.
It is my view hon Deputy Chair that amongst other things we must do in order to combat climate change and preserve humanity and the entirety of the gift of the ecosystems bestowed upon us by the most high. Firstly, we must provide the necessary support to the Presidential Commission on Climate Change and call on the commission to speed up its work to assist us fight this phenomenon. We must do everything in our oversight work to ensure that all laws meant to combat climate change are adhered to the latter and this will go a long way in bringing us closer to climate justice. We must call upon all industries to lend a hand in combating climate change. We must
intensify climate change education amongst our people particularly our learners in schools.
We must take a lead as a country in advocacy role for climate change all over the world. Over and above all, hon Deputy Chairperson, I call on all of us, to be the advocate of war on combating climate change. We must take the lead to fight climate change in our communities and every corner of our planet.
We must refuse to be the betrayers of our youth as said by Greta. We must say to Greta, to Ayakha, and to the children of South Africa, Africa, and the world, that we dare not betray you, this is a noble course we will never dishonour. I thank you. [Applause.]
Thank you Minister, for being here.
Afrikaans:
Voorsitter, die probleem met die debat is dat dit so verpolitiseerd geraak het, dat dit baie moeilik is om ware oplossings vir 'n baie komplekse probleem te kry.
Kom ek gee 'n voorbeeld. Gaan s vir iemand in die rooi vleis bedryf, eet minder rooi vleis. Dis nie so eenvoudig nie. Hoeveel
werk sal ons verloor as Suid-Afrika belsuit ons gaan 25% minder rooi vleis eet?
Die feit is, Suid-Afrika is 'n ondertekenaar van die Parys- ooreenkoms en ons sal moet sien watter wetgewing daar op hierdie Huis wag om seker te maak dat ons aan daardie ooreenkoms voldoen.
Wat ons wel het is die koolstofbelasting wat verhoog is. Maar ons weet nie regtig waarheen die verhoging gaan nie. Gaan l dit net in staatskoffers om later net 'n reddingsboei te word? [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
Hon Cloete, please just wait.
What is the point of order, hon member?
Chair, I have no interpreting.
Earlier, she understood Mr Arnolds quite well. [Interjections.]
Can you fix the interpreting? [Interjections.] Please continue, hon Cloete.
Afrikaans:
Wat gebeur met daardie koolstofbelasting? Word dit werklik gebruik om klimaatsverandering se effek te verlig?
English:
But it appears as if government is not quite sure how to attend to our contribution towards a cleaner environment. There appears to be very low energy or a lack of urgency to attend to the Climate Change Bill that was published almost two years ago, but HAS not been introduced to parliament to date. Hopefully the bill will come to the NCOP soon so that we can see how government plans to attend to climate change.
This debate is too serious and is too important to be politicised by any political ideology. We cannot just be woke about climate changes, while we turn a blind eye to what is going on in our municipalities.
Afrikaans:
Maar een van die grooste uitdagings wat Suid-Afrika in die gesig staar, is water. Want as ons saamstem dat klimaatsverandering 'n realiteit is, moet ons saamstem dat ons waterbonne ons eerste onmiddelike probleem gaan wees.
Voorsitter, waterbestuur sal baie meer aandag moet geniet, as ons wil verseker dat ons ons staal vir klimaatsverandering. Ons hoor gereeld hoe die Minister van Water en Sanitasie ons herinner dat Suid-Afrika 'n waterskaars land is.
Die vraag is, hoor munisipaliteite dit? Weet munisipaliteite dat water al meer belangrik gaan wees om klimaatsverandering te bekamp? Weet munisipaliteite dat om water nou te vermors, op die langduur gaan beteken dat ons inwoners se toegang tot water beperk gaan word. Weet ons munisipaliteite dat om ni rampbestuurplanne in plek te h nie - wat talle nie het nie ... ]
... sal beteken dat rampe soos droogtes en vloede ons mense weerloos sal maak daarteen.
Ek is bly die agbare voorsitter van die Cogta komitee van die Vrystaat is vandag hier. Ek hoop hy sal mre onmiddelik na sy komitee gaan en die volgende vrae aan hulle stel.
Weet die Nketoana munisipaliteit byvoorbeeld dat om nie aandag aan riool te gee nie, beteken dat die riool deur 'n plaas vloei en uiteindelik in die Vaalrivier beland?
Weet Matjhabeng munisipaliteit in Welkom byvoorbeeld dat, om nie waterlekkasies reg te maak nie, Welkom se water vermors word en inwoners raadop is daaroor?
Weet Mangaung munisipaliteit wat soveel as 'n klein swembad se water elke minuut verloor weens lekkasies, dat Suid-Afrika 'n waterskaars land is?
Weet Mafube munisipaliteit dat die riool wat uit sy stukkende pype vloei, ook in die Vaalrivier belan?
Ek hoop agb Smit neem kennis hiervan, want die Vaalrivier word tans gerehabiliteer, maar rou riool hou aan daarin vloei vanaf 'n rivier vanuit 'n Vrystaatse munisipaliteit.
Ek dink nie ons plaaslike regering weet regtig wat die effek van hulle wanbestuur op die klimaat het nie. En dit is jammer dat Salga nie vandag hier deelneem nie. Hierdie is 'n belangrike debat ook vir
hulle, want hulle moet antwoorde gee oor hoe hulle gaan verseker dat ons munisipaliteite reg is vir klimaatsverandering.
English:
We need to start focusing on the things we can change now, and have the wisdom and vision to protect our immediate environment through legislation that already exist.
My question to this House and our members is, when you do oversight and you become aware of a municipality where sewage flows into our rivers - which is becoming an all-too-familiar scene in South Africa - what do you do? Will you hold that municipal manager accountable?
Will you do everything possible in your constitutional mandate to ensure that water and environmental resources are protected.
Members, will you act even if it means you have to lay a charge with the police against a municipal manager who does nothing to stop sewage spills into rivers and who does nothing to stop water losses owing to broken pipes?
I am glad we spoke about doing oversight. If you don't do oversight, then you are only virtue signaling. If you refuse to do that, I wish
to say to you as Greta Thunberg would say, how dare you not do anything.
To the EFF, I would like to say, considering that you are so woke about your carbon footprint, I guess we will be seeing you give back your flying allowances. We can then give that money to the poor! Thank you.
Chairperson Portfolio Committee - Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism; and Chairperson Portfolio Committee - Budget Committee): Chairperson, last year this time I was a staff member in this Parliament and thank you for welcoming us and for inviting us to this debate today. Fellow South Africans, it's a bit metaphorical that the lights went off a few minutes ago. Unfortunately, unlike Parliament that has generators not every household can afford energy security.
Climate change is the single biggest threat to the global economy. The latest 2018 International Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, report indicates that the global net human net caused emissions of Carbon Dioxide, CO2, need to fall by approximately 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching net zero around 2050. As part of this, renewable would need to supply 70-85% of electricity by 2050 to avoid the
worst impact of climate change. Hon Chairperson, I would like to suggest that if the EFF does have a plan in terms of creating a million jobs in the energy sector they should bring the plan to the NCOP so that provinces can interrogate such a plan.
The Western Cape recently released the feasibility study for the Western Cape integrated liquefied natural gas importation and gas- to-power project. We should be applauded. This study shows that Saldanha Bay port is the most suitable port currently for the importation of the liquefied natural gas, LNG, given that it was originally built to accommodate gas and thus would be less expensive to convert the Eskom's Ankerlig Power Station compared to other coal-fired stations.
It is thus imperative that Transnet moves forward with the upgrading of the Saldanha Bay port as well as the Eskom board approving the full conversion of its Ankerlig Power Station which would generate extra 700MW. Alone Ankerlig Power Station could save a total of US$16,4 billion over the 2024- 2050 forecast period. And in the Western Cape that would amount to 13% or 13 000 permanent jobs.
Further, by converting Ankerlig Power Station to LNG, it would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 907 000 tonnes per year and save
482 million gallons of water per annum in the Western Cape through the forecast period.
The average carbon emissions from coal is about 90kg/GJ, and for LNG emits about 50kg/GJ. To put this into context, if you burn one million wooden matches completely at one time it will releases one gigajoule of energy. By converting the facility, Ankerlig would not only improve its fuel efficiency - because as most people know that LNG burns less in terms of heat than normal coal and diesel. It would also reduce the carbon dioxide emissions. Currently, coal Ankerlig produces about 180% more CO2 emissions than LNG, and diesel produces 138% more CO2 emissions than natural gas. This means, in the context of Ankerlig Power Station alone, it would reduce the power stations carbon emissions by approximately 50%.
The average avoided social cost according to the World Bank figures would mean that the social cost would be avoided from 2040-2050 between US$245 million and US$438 million. Thus, environmental considerations within the South African energy plan are key to achieve our goal of reducing our carbon emissions.
The Western Cape government, in its constitutional responsibility around police development, has approved the Western Cape climate
change response strategy and implementation framework in 2014, which was preceded by the previous report in 2005. We are currently undergoing a review of our... [Interjections.]
House Chair, on a point of order: Can the member on the podium address the House and not the Chairperson. Thank you.
That's not a point of order. You are out of order. Can you continue, hon Bartman.
Ms D M BAARTMAN (Western Cape: Chairperson Portfolio Committee - Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism; and Chairperson Portfolio Committee - Budget Committee): Chairprson, through you to the members, the Western Cape's provincial constitutional mandate has its limits in terms of decision-making and implementation ability, for example, with regards to the energy mix as well as the management of water resources.
Through the Western Cape government's Energy Security Game Changer, the Western Cape aims to reduce its electricity demand from Eskom by 10% over the next three years with the installation of rooftop PV, increased installations of solar water heaters, reduction of energy usage in public and private buildings and promotion of
industrialisation by importing natural gas. We also have our regional commitments partnering with the with the Free State of Bavaria on transitioning to climate refrigeration-friendly gases. Further, we are now supporting municipalities to allow small scale embedded generation with majority of our municipalities allowing this and have the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, Nersa, approved feed-in tariffs. Households should be allowed to generate their own and sell their own energy.
To put our money where our mouth is, the Western Cape has now allocated a budget of R60 million over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period to the green economy team in order to support municipalities who wish to procure energy from independent power producers. Eskom wants IPPs because allowing them on the grid would allow Eskom time and space to do maintenance. Unlike the Koeberg Nuclear Station, the maintenance for Eskom is not legislated. So if the member from the EFF wishes to bring something to the House perhaps we should start legislating maintenance for Eskom
The Western Cape has a population of seven million people - 51% are female - two million households in total where third of them being female-led. Research literature confirms that women carry a
disproportionate amount of the impact from the consequences of poor quality living environments as well as natural disasters. Further, there is an environmental risk likely to impact upon the quality of life, energy and food security of these households with the most burdens falling on women and girls. This is why the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs has a permanent gender main streaming forum as part of its annual programmes.
Loadshedding means women are disproportionately affected by the lack of access to adequate, affordable and safe energy options. Women suffer the brunt of loadshedding a result of the implementation of South Africa's energy plan over the years.
A particular study in Gweru, Zimbabwe where a study of families' household electricity showed that women indicated that they had to go to sleep early without cooking or prepare meals when there is electricity, and they go for uncalled fasting while the men were more likely to go out to pubs, clubs or visiting friends. One woman commented that when her children went to bed without eating she was seen as, I quote "not being a caring mother."
In this study, it was clear that loadshedding encouraged men to engage more in the public sphere where women had to be confined in
the home to deal with loadshedding. This study further showed how women are the energy decision-makers. When loadshedding occurred, all of a sudden they were under scrutiny by the men for how they are spending their budgets. Loadshedding is now disproportionately discriminating and disempowers already vulnerable women. Loadshedding is sexist. By not advocating for more progressive energy mix in South Africa, by not fast tracking the decommissioning of coal, by not brining IPPs and cleaners and alternative energies on the grid, we are failing the women of South Africa.
The national Minister of Environmental Affairs needs to please urgently consult the national Minister of Energy regarding the impact of the integrated resource plan as well as the impact of not moving with speed to cleaner and or renewable energy sources in our country in line with our international obligations; as well as the impact of not reducing our carbon emissions.
We have a constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to our health and our wellbeing. Minister Creecy, through the Chair and the House, you have immense power to influence our national energy plan and energy mix and as a result advocate for decisions in order for us to reduce our carbon emissions in line with our international obligations. I am thus here today to request,
Minister, help us help you. Chairperson, it is time to take back our power. I thank you.
I am smiling, I am smiling. Hon House Chairperson, the Chairperson of the NCOP, the Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister Creecy, my colleagues from different provinces, ladies and gentlemen. This debate comes at an appropriate and most extremely difficult time in the history of our country and the world. The economies of the world are going through very difficult and challenging times and our country South Africa is not spared from these difficult economic developments.
Some of the contributory factors to these challenging times are the collapse and crumbling of some economies. The political developments in those countries, the threatening diseases and the negative impact of climate change. The sectors of our economy that are vulnerable to climate change are facing collapse, the poor and working class suffer the inevitable consequences of job losses, poverty and malnutrition. Hon Chair, yet despite these difficult conditions we are determined. We are not prepared to succumb and shy away from the task of seeking to change those very difficult conditions in favour of the majority of our people, who are mostly the working class and the poor.
To us, a better life for our people is a non-negotiable objective and we shall strive to achieve it despite the unfavourable conditions that are engulfing our country and the world. One of the greatest philosophers in the history of human kind, Karl Marx once said:
Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already.
Hon Chair, in 2014 South Africa crafted a bold, a very ambitious and visionary economic plan. This economic plan is Vision 2030 as espoused in the National Development Plan, NDP. The NDP envisages a South Africa that strives to reduce unemployment. It envisages a South Africa that is capable to respond to diseases. It envisages a South Africa that drastically reduces the levels of poverty and a South Africa that can stimulate and grow its economy.
In its preamble the NDP envisages a South Africa that is able to respond to the negative impact of climate change. If I may just borrow a leaf from the NDP, it says:
We acknowledge that each and every one of us is intimately and inextricably of this earth with its beauty and life-giving sources; that our lives on earth are both enriched and complicated by what we have contributed to its condition.
South Africa, our country, is our land. Our land is our home. We sweep and keep clean our yard. We travel through it. We enjoy its varied climate, landscape, and vegetation. It is as diverse as we are. We live and work in it, on it with care, preserving it for future generations. We discover it all the time. As it gives life to us, we honour the life in it.
From time to time it reminds us of its enormous, infinite power. When rain and floods overwhelm, winds buffet, seas rage, and the sun beats unrelentingly in drought. In humility, we learn of our limitations. To create living spaces within this beautiful land, is to commensurate with our desired values.
Hon Chair, the above vision statement of the NDP clearly sums up the beauty and richness of our country South Africa and in particular my province, Mpumalanga. We have inherited a South Africa and a province that is endowed with mineral and agricultural produce, a
South Africa and a province that is endowed with rich mineral and capable of sustaining itself and able to feed its people.
As a country and a province, we believe that we have a joint responsibility to protect our gold. We have a joint responsibility to protect our platinum, to protect our coal, to protect our zinc and to protect our iron. We have a joint responsibility to protect our rich agriculture in order to ensure that we continue to create for our people.
We have a responsibility to protect our national parks and our tourism sector, which makes Mpumalanga to be amongst the tourist attraction provinces. We have a responsibility to ensure that our power stations are friendly to the environment. Hon Chair, we believe that we should strive to work together to respond to the urgency to combat climate change, because South Africa and our province Mpumalanga's economy is highly dependent on the income generated from the production, the processing, the export and from the consumption of these mineral resources.
We understand and are alive to the reality that climate change is a threat to sustainable development. Climate change has a negative impact to poverty alleviation. It has a negative impact to food
security. It has a negative impact to water supply. It has a negative impact to energy supply. It has a negative impact to environmental health. It has a negative impact to plant and animal diversity.
Climate change has the capacity to destroy tourism due to the loss of habitants and biodiversity. It has the capacity to lead loss of the forest that produces timber for commercial production. It has the capacity to change the human health. Hon Chair, in order to combat the reality of climate change, we must commit to do the following:
We need to commit to be the ambassadors and pioneers to combat climate change. We need to develop and implement an integrated response to climate change. We need to accept that climate change is a cross cutting issue that demands the integration across departments, across sectors, amongst stakeholders and across countries. We need to develop a strategy which will be consistent with the national priorities that are set out in the different strategies that have been put in place to deal with the issue of climate change.
As you conclude Chief Whip.
We need to door on the energies of our people irrespective of their ideologies. We need to work towards the going and inclusive...
Conclude Chief Whip.
... economy that takes care of its people. As I conclude hon Chair, it is only, and only if we work together to achieve the above objectives that we will be jointly able to respond to the urgency to combat the reality of climate change. I thank you [Applause.]
Hon Ntsube. Sorry hon Ntsube before you can start let me take hon Michalakis.
Hon House Chair, I just want to check, are all the other political parties also going to get the extra one and a half minute?
You are not going to assist me. Rest assured that I am going to deal with them the same way, hon Ntsube.
House Chair, hon members, Ministers, Chief Whip, just for the record: We would like to deal with the misguided misconception of the opposition, particularly of the opposition - particularly the DA - by rejecting the amendment of section 25 to redistribute the land to our people as irrational because ... [Interjections.]
Chairperson, point of order!
(MR A J NYAMBI): Let me take the point order. Hon Cloete?
The point of order being: I am just trying to find out what the relevance is to the debate?
(Mr A J NYAMBI): Order, hon members! Hon Cloete, that is not a point of order. Hon Ntsube has its own time and it is entirely up to him how he wants to contribute in the debate. [Applause.]
House Chair, grandstanding will never delay the ANC from giving the land to our people. South Africa has a youthful population. About 20% of the population is aged between 10 and 19
years old. As of 2019, with the growing population now seated around
58 million, youth population between the ages of 18 and 40 years old is estimated around 17 million.
In 2019, a team of researchers from the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, and the SA Medical Research Council, published a report that indicated how young people in South Africa will inherit a world left hazardous by green gas emissions. The same report indicated that those responsible for the climate change will be spurred the full brunt of their effects.
Is it what is meant by ... Okay, my apologies. [Interjections.] Yes! Is it what is meant when they say the kids will be punished by the sins of their parents? [Interjections.] [Laughter.] One of the ways in which we can help deal effectively with climate change is through legislative mechanisms put in place. It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that the systems are put in place to ensure that everyone has access to safe and healthy living and working conditions.
With punitive legislation in place, the state should ensure that those who have harmed the environment and have harmed the health of our people are held accountable for this. It is a practice in other
several countries for young people to use litigation to hold their governments and private sector to account. South Africa has one best commendable pieces of legislation around climate change in the world.
Our national environmental management amendment laws are well designed to help advance responsible role as a nation in issues of environmental protection. The National Environmental Management Act is meant to establish and review the land use guidelines, examine the land patterns to use to determine the impact of inequality and quantity of the natural resources and carry out the service which will assist proper management and conservation of the environment.
South Africa's disaster risk reduction management legislation serves as a model for other countries and considered to be one of the advanced institutional frameworks for disaster management in the world. There can never be doubt, but in terms of the legislative readiness, South Africa is not wanting.
Climate change is the responsibility of the entire globe and each and every country is expected to contribute in reducing the effects of climate change in our society. This requires a collective effort of each and every citizen in each and every country. We need a
global social compact in dealing with climate change on a global scale.
The United Nations defines early warning system as an imperative measure for climate change, using integrated communication systems to help communities to prepare for hazardous climate-related events. It further said that successful early warnings system will help to save lives and jobs, line infrastructure support and long term sustainability.
We are not founding as South Africa in terms of our level of preparedness in relation to climate change. We have a clear and well-crafted national legislation to help with negative impacts of climate change. SA Weather Services is mandated by the Weather Services Act of 2001 to produce weather and climate change information, as well as providing early warning alerts.
The SA Weather Services is the main source of information and collaborates through social compacts with other private institutions and community research organisations and provide severe warning and advisories to National Disaster Management Centre. These weather advisories are important in ensuring our state readiness of emergency.
It has been reported that South Africa is amongst 12 largest carbon dioxide emitting countries in the world. Our economies are reliant on coal resources to generate power and liquid fuels and these places are among the highest per capita emissions in the developing world. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's Paris Accord places the responsibility on South Africa as a signatory member to take active steps in dealing with climate change.
As a nation, we must effectively deal with air pollution. It is reported by researchers at the International Growth Centre that the developing countries like South Africa have a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, resulting in productivity losses and mortality due to high concentration of pollution.
Droughts are associated with climate change and this is the effect of human behaviour on the planet's temperature. Our provinces, like the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Eastern Cape are some of the provinces hard hit by devastating impacts of climate change. Our small and emerging farmers are experiencing challenges and some of them had to close their farm enterprises because of climate change related to drought.
Throughout the corners of South Africa, there are increased levels of anxiety to climate change. Young people are uncertain about the future impact of climate change and nervous in terms of how the world they are going to inherit will be looking like in two decades to come. Like I earlier indicated, they are interested in their action being taken by the government and would like some reassurance that the world they will inherit will be habitable, with less risk of human extension. Young people are asking if indeed senior citizens are conscious of apocalyptic nature of climate change that they face on a daily basis. The impact of climate change is felt by young people in a classroom where they cannot even concentrate due to high temperatures risk hazards and the floods that destroy the bridges that they pass on their way to go educational institutions.
In conclusion, we have seen in South Africa and around the globe young people taking to the stage and becoming climate change activists. They are in numbers appealing to the government of the world to save the environment and reduce carbon emissions with devastating impact on the environment. They are eagerly waiting to hear the reassuring voices that are needed, that indeed, senior citizens of the world care about them and will strive hard to live in a world with a clean environment and sufficient natural resources for their continued livelihood.
As a voice of millions of young people in this country, I would like on behalf of the youth to welcome the finalisation of the Climate Change Bill, which will provide regulatory framework for the effective management of the inevitable change impact by enhancing adaptive capacity strengthening of resilience.
The introduction of green economy initiative is most welcome and young people stand ready to become agents of green economy. We are encouraged by the establishment of the Presidential Commission on Climate Change's move towards a low carbon growth trajectory green economy on our lifetime.
Just for the record, there is a learner who passed away last week in Tlholetsang Primary School because he ate a chocolate with few friends. The ANC would like to pass a word of condolences to the family.
Sesotho:
ANC, e leka hore ho lelapa la habo Mokgadi: Ha moya wa hae o robale ka kgotso.
English:
The four remaining are still in ICU. Again ...
Sesotho:
Ho lelapa la habo Maloka: A robale ka kgotso.
English:
To the rest of Fees Must Fall activists, like Mcebo Dlamini: The youth of this country is with you. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Chairperson, at Conference of the Parties, COP 21, in Paris on 12 December 2015 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, NFCCC, reached a historic agreement to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future.
All nation state parties present undertook to action to reduce carbon emissions in the form of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, INDCs, which will form the foundation for climate action post 2020.
As we all know the INDCs form the foundational contributions which each country will be required to make in order to keep the expected global average temperature rise to within two degrees Celsius.
The question in 2020 which we must ask ourselves is: Is South Africa doing enough? Are we bringing our share regarding adaptation and mitigation of climate change? Or are we further contributing to climate change by not having clear enforceable policy and legislation on the issue? How are we adapting to the multifaceted, complex and continuous process with the aim of reducing the impacts of climate change? These are the hard questions that require answering.
Barriers to adaptation must be identified and addressed, otherwise...
IsiZulu:
... izosibulala lento.
English:
Hon Deputy Chairperson, the Africa continent currently finds itself having to meet the enormous demands for energy and the challenge we face in meeting the demand is that we further add to global warming.
IsiZulu:
Kunzima.
English:
It is therefore most important that carbon emissions remain low, and they can if the right low carbon energy choices are made now. The matter is urgent, Chairperson.
We must follow the path of sustainable energy efficiency. Solar, wind and hydro energy must receive grater impetus. Renewable must lead our drive towards greater energy efficiency.
In conclusion, this is our planet and we must walk gently upon her. Relentless chasing of profits and continuous economic development in pursuit of greater growth above all else will only bring imbalance to nature.
IsiZulu:
Izosibulala lento. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.]
Hon Chairperson, hon members, members of the public and fellow South Africans, I seriously consider changing my surname after today. But let me leave it there.
Hon Smit, I have to respond to your flimsy dog point you made during the debate. You talk about preserving water and the quality of water
but your ANC-led local governments are the biggest contributors to water pollution through both negligent and deliberate sewage spills into water systems.
If I can only mention Emfuleni Local Municipality in Gauteng that caused unimaginable damage to the Vaal River system that the estimated cost for repair will be R1 billion.
You talk about fires and their impact thereof, but if we look in the Western Cape and the number of fires and the possible involvement of politicians and political parties in initiating that, you should look in your back door.
Hon Ndongeni, you referred to the ANC's commitment to the environment, but let us just look at the budget allocation to this specific department then we see how serious you are actually.
Afrikaans:
Soos ons in Afrikaans s, suig aan die agterspeen.
English:
Hon Cele, it is rich from you to blame neoliberal tendencies while your corrupt infested ANC should take responsibility for corrupt mining deals at the cost of the environment.
You also referred to people losing their homes and belongings due to floods, but in Mogalakwena your ANC-led government built houses in extension 14, 19 and 20 within the 50 year and 100 year flood lines.
Minister Creecy, I want to urge you and your department to urgently attend to the large scale of soil erosion taking place just outside Polokwane in Limpopo. It is having a massive impact. If you fly over you will actually see it.
Hon Ntsube, I sometimes wonder what is the contribution of Ace Magashule in you being here, but if you actually attend Parliament more you will actually know what is going on and what the topic of the day is.
Hon Arnolds, when I look at your party's action and behaviour like burning tires I sometimes wonder if the EFF doesn't stand for Eliminate your Future Forever!
Hon Chair, we find ourselves in a time of extremes. A time of frequent and fast-moving change ...
(Mr A J Nyambi): Sorry, hon Smit. Hon members, hackling is allowed but you do it without drowning the speaker at the podium. You can do it but do not drown him; we must still listen to him. You can continue, hon Smit.
... and we as a country need to keep up to the new trends and new set of values. One of these changes is climate change and the new ethical responsibility we have towards the future of our planet.
If we look at the locust outbreak in central and North Africa, I ask myself: Are we ready as South Africa to protect our farmers against natural disasters and plagues like these? I am afraid to say that I really do not think so.
Yet we have a responsibility to do everything we can to help prevent things to get worse and slow down climate change, but on the other hand we must prepare for the unavoidable as well. We must become forward thinking and proactive as a government. The Western Cape is a good example of exactly that.
This government must incentivise farmers to make use of more waterwise farming methods and other farming measures that can control their environment like warehouse farming. This is crucial for food security and stability in the industry in the future.
Government must invest heavily in research with regards to more resilient specimens that can withstand the extremes that might follow. Therefore, Onderstepoort needs to be funded urgently to be able to fulfil their mandate successfully.
Hon House Chairperson, our current electricity crises of which we felt just last night and earlier today with another stage four load shedding migraine, provide a window of opportunity for us to transform our energy sector. But the political will need to be there to do that and to do it now.
We need to open bid window five immediately for Independent Power Producers, IPPs, to come on board and invest in renewable energy generation capacity. We must move away from coal-based energy consumption - there is no such thing as clean coal energy. This fact comes straight out of the mouth of Minister Creecy who said that there is no technology to clear carbon emissions from coal generation.
Let us think of our future and the future of our beautiful planet and the future of our children and their children and to act now or we will be judged by the future generations for our failure to listen to our planet's cries. I thank you. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon House
Chairperson, hon members, thank you very much for inviting me to participate in this debate, and allow me at the outset, to once again welcome President Cyril Ramaphosa's commitment which he made in his state of the nation address to establishing the Presidential Climate Change Commission to lead our just transition to a lower carbon, climate resilient and sustainable economy and society that will leave no one behind.
Let me further also restate, what all hon members across party lines have stated today that science is telling us that the Southern part of Africa has been identified as a climate change hotspot with the extreme weather events. Evidence, we have all seen in recent times. This includes flooding and severe storms in the KwaZulu-Natal as well as parts of the Eastern Cape leading to loss of lives, destruction of infrastructure and homes.
The Eastern, Western and Northern Cape have experienced the most prolonged drought in recorded history. These extreme weather events put pressure to our already constrained fiscus, health sector, disaster management and social security systems. Our national biodiversity as many members have said, confirm the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and now spans all realms and most species, including impacting on ecosystem structure and function as well as a direct threat to the survival of many species.
It is important to acknowledge that climate change poses both risks and opportunities to our country, and I will speak more about these opportunities later in my speech. On the risks side, we know that climate change has the potential to reverse the progress made under the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, and further impede our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals we have adopted together with the international community.
Our vulnerability to climate change is exacerbated by our economic inequality, poverty and our current dependency on coal-fired power generation. This year the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, comes fully into force. Climate change and its associated consequences can only be addressed by the world's nations working together. It can only be
addressed when together we all honour our mutual commitments and our differentiated responsibilities.
It can only be effective when we stand together in support of the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol.
South Africa will continue, as a responsible global citizen, to speak in support of multilateralism and the Convention and its Paris Agreement. Hon members, when I spoke in the state of the nation debate I outlined in some detail how national government is responding to climate change and how we are fulfilling our obligations in terms of the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Accord to which we are a signatory.
Today, it is appropriate to focus on what subnational government can do. At Cop 25 in Madrid last December, the United Cities and Local Governments, UCLG, had the following to say:
In the face of multiple, complex and interconnected challenges at the global level, it is essential to work together among the different spheres of government in order to achieve common objectives considering all stakeholders. Increasingly, local and regional action is accelerating commitments to implement
Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement, so that the future of the climate considers the principles of solidarity, social justice, intergenerational dialogues and peace and with a human rights approach.
This significant statement acknowledges the role that all levels of government must play in achieving Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement. It also stresses that such agreements cannot be achieved without involving local communities and a wide range of civil society actors. Our own Climate Change Policy outlines that:
Our overall strategic approach for South Africa's climate change response is needs driven and customised; developmental; transformational, empowering and participatory; dynamic and evidence- based; balanced and cost effective; and integrated and aligned.
So hon members, you know that we are currently finalising the Climate Change Bill that will give effect to management approaches to the inevitable impacts and mitigation for climate change measures. In this regard, all provinces and municipalities have to undertake climate risk assessments and develop their own customised
climate change response strategies which take local circumstances into account.
To this end, at a technical level, we have already worked with many of your provincial governments to develop provincial adaptation plans and we have supported all districts municipalities in developing climate change response plans. Now hon members, as the members of the NCOP, we are asking you to ensure that all provincial executive councils and all municipal councils officially adopt the strategies to ensure political leadership in addressing climate change.
For provinces and municipalities to prioritise implementation, will require resource allocation and building necessary local capacity. In this regard we welcome the fact that in many districts climate change strategies are already integrated into their Integrated Development Plans. A number of Cities are also members of global city movements relating to climate action and city networks that contribute to the climate change agendas such as the 100 Resilient Cities, the ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.
Many have internal, through their statutory planning documents and global carbon commitments and targets that apply to functions such as transport planning, urban development and spatial planning, infrastructure investment and service delivery. Furthermore, there is increasing regional co- ordination and horizontal integration of climate change responses as municipalities are sharing practice and learning from one another, such as through the KwaZulu- Natal Climate Change Compact.
Some of South Africa's Metros are pioneering Net Carbon Zero Building policy and regulations, and this requires that buildings exceed the country's energy efficiency and energy consumption standards, and that their remaining energy demand is met by renewable energy. We are working with the weather service to enhance our early warning systems for extreme weather events, so that provinces and municipalities can ensure readiness to address and avert climate induced disasters.
Three weeks ago, I met with the SA Weather Service and we agreed that the service will begin to educate local communities across the country so they can better understand Climate Change and respond appropriately. We are also working with a range of nongovernmental institutions to create awareness amongst schools and learners on
issues such as climate change and sustainability. We will also enhance our existing partnership with the Department of Education to improve teaching of the environmental aspects of the Life Orientation curriculum.
National, provincial and local government have environmental programmes that aim to restore ecosystems services which nature provides free of charge. Through our environmental programmes this year, we are spending R1,9 billion to restore wetlands, estuaries and coastal dunes, to better protect infrastructure and human settlements from storms, floods and sea level rise. If we work much more closely together, hon members, and we co- ordinate our work better, we will have much more significant impact.
Our government is currently in discussion with the German government a new ground earmarked for land-based programmes to enhance the carbon sequestration potential of South Africa's natural biomes. Through this initiative, we plan to enhance carbon absorption in grasslands and savannahs through improved grazing management as well as restoration of our indigenous forests, and hon Smit, you will be glad to know that Limpopo is included in this programme.
Hon members, we often emphasise the risk climate change poses to our country. It is also important to understand that it also presents us with opportunities. Responding appropriately to climate change provides provincial and local government with new opportunities for inclusive growth and job creation in the field of renewables and green technology. A recent study by Accenture estimates green industries and technology can unlock economic activities to the value $350 billion on our continent.
In the wake of the release of the new integrated resource plan and the announcements on different dispensations for energy generation by the Minister of Energy, new possibilities are opening up at subnational government level for the use of renewables. Standard Bank has also just issued a green bond for the first time, aimed at raising US$ 200 million in a 10 year facility to support environmentally friendly projects in renewables, energy and water efficiency and green buildings.
Our country has some of the largest scale resources in vanadium, platinum, palladium, nickel, manganese, rare earths, copper and cobalt. Platinum- catalysed fuel cell and hydrogen markets are beginning to grow exponentially. South Africa has one of world's
most extensive platinum reserves, and our country is well placed to take advantage of these new economic opportunities.
We are currently finalising the national employment vulnerability assessment and associated Job Resilient Plans for the four value chains namely coal, petroleum transport, metals, tourism and agriculture. We will need to work together towards the implementation of plans for sector resilience in all provinces and at all districts levels Since 2018, we have mobilised in excessive R7,5 billion worth of grant and concessional finance from both bilateral and multilateral funding sources.
These funds are funding climate support programmes in government, local adaptation programmes, energy efficiency, development of low emission, development strategies and capacity building as well battery storage and renewables. A new Development Bank of Southern Africa, DBSA, Climate Finance Facility, CFF, and an ecosystem based adaptation programme in the Western Indian Ocean. This includes US $3,6 million grant from the Global Environment Facility, GEF, for scaling- up and mainstreaming sustainable land management for large- scale impact on grazing land.
South Africa will continue to lobby developed countries to provide an adequate, reliable and predictable source of international funding for both mitigation and adaptation. Our country will also participate in a range of international forums to access both grant based and blended finance solutions for our climate needs. Hon members, as we have said, climate change poses us with both risks and opportunities. It is important that across government at all levels of government, provincial, national and local government, we mobilise and work together.
It is important that involve business, organised labour and civil society, and of course, the young people whose future is mostly at stake. If we work together under the auspices of the Presidential Climate Change Commission, I have no doubt that we will be able to ensure our country benefits from the opportunities prevented, and that we ensure just transition to a lower carbon growth path that leaves no one behind. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Tshiven?a:
MUKHANTSELARA Vho T B MATIBE: Mudzulatshidulu, ri khou livhuwa tshipi?a hetshi tshe ra tshi ?ekedzwiwa uri ri ?ekedze zwi?uku hafha zwino yelana na khanedzano heyi ine ya vha hone phan?a hashu. Kha Mudzulatshidulu, Vho Minisi?ara, mira?o yo?he ya National Council of
Provinces, lushaka lwo?he ngei nn?a nga u angaredza, ri?e sa dzangano ?a ANC ri khou ?a u ?ekedza mafhungo ane ra khou tea u ?ekedza lushaka zwi tshi yelana na ?hoho ya heyi khanedzano ine ro i ?ekedziwa hafha kha National Council of Provinces.
English:
House Chairperson, let me start with the ANC policy. In terms of the Constitution of the ANC in the aims and objectives of the ANC, Rule 2,8 states that the ANC will support, advance the cause of national liberation, development, world peace, disarmament, and most importantly hon members, support and advance the cause of environmentally sustainable development. So, it's within our blood as the ANC that we ... [Applause.] ... have an environmentally sustainable development.
Just for further indulgence on this policy hon members on the policy position of the ANC, in the 1992 Ready to Govern policy guidelines, the ANC put it that 'any plans to grow the economy must not harm the environment.
So, even before we were in government, we were ready to put any environmental friendly guidelines that will assist our environment just on the passing. So, it's not about that we are already in
government, even before we were in government, our policy position was geared to towards making a good environment for our people.
According to the Global Risks Report for 2020, the top five global risks in terms of livelihood and impacts are all environmental, extreme weather conditions, failure for climate change mitigation and adaptation, human made environmental damage and disasters, major bio-diversity loss and ecosystem collapse, major natural resources such as earthquakes and tsunami.
Tshiven?a:
Vhathu vho ambaho murahu hanga hafha vho no sumbedzisa uri Muphuresidennde vho zwi amba musi vha tshi ?ekedza state of the nation address Vho Ramaphosa uri vha khou ?i?ekedzela kha u ita Afrika Tshipembe ?ine ?i a sedzana na mafhungo a tshanduko ya ki?ima. Nga i?we n?ila zwo?he zwine ra fanela u zwi ita sa muvhuso ri tea u zwi ita ri tshi sedza na hezwo.
So, all the challenges that are there in terms of the climate change and the Bill that has been passed by Parliament, all of them are geared towards making sure that we have a responsive government that respond to climate change.
In responding to the urgency to combat the reality of climate change, we need to pull all of our resources together and this require building a very strong social compact for all of us. So, it's not about Western Cape, hon Labuschagne. It's about South Africa. It's about the Southern African Development Community, SADC. It's about Africa. [Applause.] It's about the world. [Applause.] So, if we don't integrate and have a social compact, all of us and try to isolate ourselves as a province, it will never assist us in the fight and it does not show urgency towards addressing the issue of climate change.
In addition, the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy provides a common vision for climate change adaptation and resilience for the country and outlines the priority for achieving this vision. This roadmap is for enhancing resilience to climate change because it will also ensure facilitation and development of adaptation initiatives at different levels of government, and business and society at large, thus informing resource allocation to various stakeholders towards climate change resilience.
So, we should be able to pull together have a social compact with our business, all the stakeholders that are there, youth, women, all stakeholders so that all of us are geared towards having that.
We have already elaborated on the President's commitment during the state of the nation address.
The implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation programme must be strengthened within our local communities. It's good that the ANC- led government has a district model which will assist in terms of co- operation and integration of all the plans that we have as national, provincial and local government. If we do that it's going to assist in terms of those plans.
So, no municipality, no locality can be isolated from other areas in South Africa because environmental impact does not have borders and boundaries. It is for every part of South Africa.
Local government and provincial government must have infrastructure development plans responsive to challenges posed by climate change. As we have noticed the devastation caused by floods in Gauteng as well as Kwa- Zulu Natal, it's an indication that all our provinces and local municipalities must put together their disaster management plan that is responsive to any climate change that is there.
The policy think tanks, exploring current and future risks from flooding, storm surges and other disasters in Eden District
Municipality have recommended the restoration and protection of key ecosystems such as wetlands and dunes to proactively manage disaster risk. Those are some of the municipalities that have put in place plans to do that.
For us hon members, to respond urgent need to upscale climate action we need to take into account the following: Barriers and enablers of policy implementation. We need to look at the research and development. We need to look at young people as well as women and how do we empower them. We need hon Minister, to initiate community projects that speak to issues of climate change so that climate change must not remain in Parliament and in government. It must also go to the communities and ensure that communities are there and active participants in terms of climate change put alternative livelihoods nature base solutions, ecosystem adaptation, climate change flagship and climate information and services.
Our people need to have information on climate change and they have been doing that.
In terms of the legislative framework as I conclude House Chairperson, it is important to ensure that effective legislative framework to ensure that South Africa meets all its obligations, we
have obligation in SADC, we have obligation in the AU, we have obligation in the United Nations in terms of climate change obligations. So, the strict adherence to all those obligations will assist us to do that.
As I conclude House Chairperson, government led by the ANC has initiated various flagship programmes for climate change adaptation and mitigation. It is only the government of the ANC that can adequately respond to the urgency to combat the reality of climate change. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon House Chair, Minister, members, thank you to my colleagues and all other members taking part in this important debate on climate change today. Thank you Minister for your input and drive in the Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries. We are awaiting the climate change's Bill as a tool to mainstream climate change's mitigation and adaptation management, and we will also do the required oversight.
In summary, all speakers addressed and agreed that we should not only accept the status quo, that we only act or speak out when our immediate environment are severely disrupted; when we start feeling the consequences, that is when we start to act.
Hon Minister, thank you very much for all the different kinds of funds that you've mentioned here today because few speakers also addressed the need to find ways to access more funding and to lobby for greater access to international funding. As well asw that we need to streamline climate change's mitigation and adaptation priorities so that climate change's key performance areas could be addressed through the normal budget cycle of all government departments, and for that matter, in all other organisations.
Hon Bara, the importance of research, monitoring and evaluation needs to be emphasized as it will provide the roadmap for successes as sustainable adaptation and mitigation.
We need to prioritise the capacity building on all levels and various speakers addressed the role and function of local government; and we need to address capacity building, specifically on local government level.
Minister Creecy, you mentioned that some of the disaster management and spatial framework and a few other things already being included in some of the municipalities, specifically district municipalities. But local government needs to integrate climate change into the integrated development plans, IDPs to address, specifically,
vulnerable people and vulnerable communities with specific reference to water pollution, waste management and disasters.
Various speakers addressed energy and water; we need to prioritise these two sectors or resources with a cross-cutting effect thereof on other sectors like transport, agriculture, housing and ... actually all the rest of this.
I think each and everyone here addressed the importance of renewable energy; there's no question about that. The question just: When will we really upscale on that?
Hon Arnold, as your provincial Whip, I suggest that you read a little bit wider than only the EFF's manifesto. That might refrain you from a few; only EFF claims in our next debate.
We all agree on the importance of our biodiversity and focus on ecosystem management. We should focus and encourage opportunities developing out of the climate change management to increase economic growth and job creation, as Minister Creecy also said.
Hon Matibe, preferential hearing normally leads to incorrect assumptions. I highlighted some examples from the Western Cape as
many other speakers form other provinces did, as we should, according to our spelled out role and responsibilities in section 42 of the Constitution. But you're a special delegate; I will forgive you with this one time.
Lastly, we need to focus on awareness and sharing of information and education to learn from each other and implement small and major interventions projects and programmes to ensure the future of our generations to come.
We welcome the education role of the SA Weather Services as the Minister announced.
Hon Smit, to use your analogy, hopefully we all will go out today with the understanding that we should not only be barking dogs for climate change, but that we should become guide dogs for climate change to ensure that each and everyone in South Africa becomes part in the effort to combat global warming. I thank you. [Applause.]
Thank you, hon Labuschagne.
On behalf of the leadership of the NCOP, under the guidance of Chair Masondo, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you,
Minister, our special delegates from Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Western Cape. So, we have today, Chief whip, seven provinces because of the importance of the debate today. [Applause.]
Indeed, we are responding to the urgency to combat the reality of climate change.
That concludes the debate and the business of the day. Hon members are requested to remain standing until the procession has left the chamber. The House is adjourned.
The Council adjourned at 17:14. -----------------------