Speaker, the White Paper on Climate Change recently approved by Cabinet sets out an action plan to ensure that we effectively address global warming. South Africa, like other developing countries, is especially vulnerable to the impact of climate change. This White Paper presents the South African government's vision for an effective climate change response in the medium- and long-term transition to a climate- resilient and low-carbon economy and society.
Our response to climate change has two objectives: firstly, to manage effectively the inevitable impact of climate change through interventions and, secondly, to make a fair contribution to stabilising greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere.
The national climate change response includes a risk-based process to identify and prioritise short- and medium-term adaptation interventions to be addressed in all sector plans. The process will also identify the adaptation response that requires co-ordination between sectors and departments and will be reviewed every five years.
The national climate change response also aims to promote investment in human and productive resources that will grow the green economy. Government departments are expected to begin communicating with citizens about climate change, to inform and educate them and to influence their behavioural choices. This includes setting up and maintaining early-warning systems so that people can take specific action to reduce risks to themselves, their households and their property. [Time expired.] [Applause.]