Chairperson, I hope you can all hear me. I really miss being in this portfolio committee. I served in it for five years and am now still stuck with Justice. I see Johnny is now sitting here. I wish him well, and I wish you all very well, because this department is really exemplary here in Parliament.
We believe that we must be good stewards of our environment, and clearly this department has been a good steward of the finances and the budgets that have been given to them. We commend them for that from the ACDP side.
Whilst the department prepares for the 2012 National State of the Environment Report, let us be reminded of what was said in the previous 2007 report. It indicated that the poor in South Africa and those living with HIV/Aids are becoming increasingly vulnerable, due to the changes in our environment. Poor people suffer the most from increasing climate variability, declining air and water quality, degraded land and declining natural resources due to over-exploitation, pollution and food insecurity. Next year's report will no doubt sketch an even gloomier picture of the state of our environment.
Against this background, the department is expected to enforce compliance with a growing number of environmental laws, with dwindling financial and personnel resources. This is unacceptable and must be addressed, particularly when one considers wastage in other departments. The buck stops with us here in Parliament. We have the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act and we can look into that and make sure that this department has sufficient finance.
As far as climate change is concerned, it is regrettable that previous Conference of the Parties, COP, agreements have fallen woefully short of the action needed. Minister, why should governments that meet at these global forums not be held accountable by their Members of Parliaments, MPs, and through the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU? Maybe MPs don't have the political will? We trust that COP 17, to be held this year in South Africa, will yield better results.
The ACDP also believes that as far as the environmental impact assessments, EIAs, are concerned, whilst they are a crucial tool to protect the environment, we are concerned about delays, as we have seen in some of the portfolio reports. This is a frustration that businesses and companies are experiencing. How will these delays be addressed, when we understand that they are caused mainly by staff vacancies? Clearly the EIAs are not the obstacles, but rather the delays in looking into that.
We have seen, with Shell's plans to drill wells for natural gas in the Karoo, the importance of these EIAs, and it is interesting that the environmental management plan submitted by Shell has been described as a worthless paper exercise. We agree with colleagues here that fracking should not be allowed, considering international experience in this regard.
The issue of rhino poaching has been raised by many speakers, and we as the ACDP share the concerns regarding rhino poaching. Clearly much more needs to be done to stop the wanton killing of rhinos. Let us get the message out that rhino horn is not medicinal, and let us cut demand.
Lastly, we as the ACDP would like to express our gratitude to the management and officials of the department. We really thank this portfolio committee and the public entities for their hard work in attempting to ensure that our environment is protected, notwithstanding the challenges they face. The ACDP will support this Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]