Ref:02/1/5/2
MINISTER
QUESTION NO. 2222 FOR WRITTEN REPLY: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
A draft reply to Ms D Carter (Cope) to the above-mentioned question is
enclosed for your consideration.
MS NOSIPHO NGCABA
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 2222 {NW2579E}
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 21 of 2015
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12 June 2015
Ms D Carter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs:
Whether Government is willing to act proactively and decisively to
legislate far-reaching measures conforming with the recommendations of the
Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action to signify
to the world that not only is the country willing to host conferences on
environmental issues but willing to take a lead in following up on the
specified recommendations because of the countryâs belief in the need to
act decisively in order to mitigate climate change as a first step and then
work to reverse it while the window of opportunity exists; if not, why not;
if so, what are the relevant details?
NW2579E
2222. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS REPLIES:
The Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP)
resulted from the
17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which was hosted by South Africa in Durban in
2011. The mandate of the ADP is to develop a protocol, another legal
instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the UNFCCC
applicable to all Parties, which is to be completed no later than December
2015. The ADP is also, in parallel, working on options to enhance
mitigation ambition in the pre-2020 period.
South Africa is engaging actively in the global preparatory negotiation
process, towards the finalisation of the mandate under the Durban Platform,
by the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, to be held in Paris in
December 2015.
The underlying tenets of the South African negotiating position are to
ensure that:
i) environmental and development imperatives are balanced;
ii) global emission reduction efforts are adequate to avert dangerous
climate change while respecting the developing countriesâ priorities
for development and eradicating poverty;
iii) provision of sufficient means of implementation to support both
adaptation and mitigation actions by the developing countries; and
iv) adaptation receives equal priority with mitigation, in accordance with
South Africaâs National Policy Framework and the National Development
Plan.
The Department of Environmental Affairs strives to give effect to the
Constitutional environmental rights of all South Africans through sound
environmental management policies, legislation and regulations. On climate
change in particular, we are in the implementation phase of the National
Climate Change Response Policy that was adopted by Cabinet in 2011.
Extensive work has been done on analyzing emission reduction potential in
key sectors, and work is currently underway in consultation with the key
departments and stakeholders to develop an emission reduction system.
Extensive work is being done by various sector departments to roll-out
renewable energy sources of electricity generation and to establish lower
carbon public transport systems. In addition, work has been done on
developing long-term adaptation scenarios to inform adaptation planning
processes. A monitoring and evaluation system is being established to make
it possible to track South Africaâs transition to a lower carbon and
climate resilient economy.
In addition we have completed and submitted to the UNFCCC the Biennial
Update Report and are working towards South Africaâs Intended Nationally
Determined Contribution that will be consulted with the stakeholders prior
to submission to the UNFCCC.
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