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.]