Hon Chairperson, firstly, on behalf of the ANC, we are delighted to realise that this House speaks with one voice in so far as climate change is concerned.
On 26 May 2011, the ANC requested me to participate in the debate on Budget Vote No 29 on Energy for the 2011-12 financial year. My focus was on climate change, COP 17 and the green economy.
In order for people to understand what climate change is, I described it as a phenomenon that takes place when carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere, forming a blanket around the earth and altering the climate. It alters the normal functioning of the earth's systems, for example by causing shifts in rainfall, as well as in the amounts of rain that fall. Instead of rain falling throughout summer, climate change could cause the entire amount of rain that falls in a season to fall in just one month, causing flooding and eventually droughts in the same area, as that rain does not spread out.
I further explained that these floods and droughts affect poor people negatively, as they have no resources to adapt to the impacts. The consequences of this, if not attended to, can lead to very serious challenges, such as diminished natural resources; reduced agricultural production, thereby worsening food security; increased flooding and droughts, thereby spreading various diseases; and increased risk of conflict over scarce land and water resources. This is the understanding of climate change and its negative impacts on society.
I went further, giving a summary of the history of discussions on this matter dating back to 1979, when a scientific gathering called on the world's governments to foresee and prevent a potential manmade change in climate that might be adverse to the wellbeing of humanity. This led to processes, which led to a framework, as has been mentioned by the speakers before me. Subsequently conventions which are being followed to date have mitigated greenhouse gases and adapted to conditions of energy efficiency and green climate.
South Africa, as a country with a high greenhouse gas emissions profile, took the necessary measures with the aim of addressing both mitigation and adaptation. These included, among others, the release of the Climate Change Response Strategy for South Africa in 2004; a mitigation scenario study and its release in 2008; hosting a Climate Change Response Policy conference for South Africa in March 2009; convening the Green Economy Summit in May 2010; the release of the National Climate Change Response Green Paper in 2010; and public hearings by the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs here in Parliament in March 2011. We are also looking forward to hosting COP 17 in December 2011.
What should be very clear, though, is that hosting COP 17 is not going to do away with the challenges resulting from climate change. There are many areas that both government and communities should adapt to and include in our way of life. These include, among others, renewable energies, green buildings, clean transportation, water management and land management, to name but a few.
The ANC welcomes Parliament's approach to climate change, which includes reducing the carbon footprint within Parliament and the residential villages; recycling; greening; energy-saving mechanisms; paperless committees, plenaries and meetings; and the increased use of ICT.
I wish to mention that the public awareness campaign cannot be overemphasised. It is my view that this campaign should take the form of the campaigns against apartheid and HIV/Aids. These two campaigns have been very effective in South Africa.
In conclusion, the world is coming to South Africa, and we have the responsibility to: maintain the integrity of the multilateral process; operationalise the Cancun institutions; determine the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol and a comparable emissions reduction regime for non-Kyoto parties; afford a central place to adaptation; and focus on finance discussions, particularly of the Green Climate Fund.
It would be proper to mention that I sat there and listened very carefully to the debate, with the thought that we were going to do what we normally do. I was not surprised, and more than delighted that we did something different. The difference was that we all spoke with one voice. We were all saying: "Away with global warming!" And the way to do it is to find a legally binding agreement. Thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.