NDM AND CSA PARTNERS CONFERENCE
13 – 14 MARCH 2012, SPRINGBOK
NORTHERN CAPE CLIMATE CHANGE
RESPONSE STRATEGY (working document)
PRESENTED BY:
B. D. Fisher
PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENT STATEMENT
WITH REGARD TO CLIMATE CHANGE
• The province strives to create an economic, social ,
healthy and sustainable environment for all
Communities within the Northern Cape irrespective
of religion, colour or financial status.
• The province supports green economy projects which
will specifically benefit the province and it’s people.
• The Province would also like to position itself as the
leader in the producer of renewable energy for South
Africa.
THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES
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Threats
Food security / Vectors
Water
Mining
Land use changes
Disasters
Human settlements /
refugees
 Sea level rise
 Agricultural practices
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Opportunities
Renewable energy
Eco tourism
Green economy
Sustainable farming
practices
 Indigenous Knowledge
 Partnerships
 Planning
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
• In 2006 the SA cabinet commissioned a process to examine
the potential to mitigate the country’s GHG emissions.
• This document would later become known as the Long Term
Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS) that would provide sound
scientific analysis from which cabinet would develop a long
term climate policy.
• This document would also give our negotiators a clear
mandated position at the UNFCCC meetings.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
• This document attempts to answer two fundamental
questions:
 Why should South Africa be concerned with the mitigation of greenhouse
gases?
and
 What options for mitigation are available, how much can each option
reduce emissions, and at what cost?
STRUCTURE OF THE RESPONSE STRATEGY
• INTRODUCTION
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What is climate change.
What causes climate change
Green house gas effect
Green house gases
Sources of green house gases
KEY SECTORS
Agriculture
Energy
Manufacturing / Industry
Water
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Biodiversity
Education
Human health
Transport
Human settlements (urban.rural
and coastal)
Green house gas inventory
Green jobs
Resources
Provincial Climate Change
committee
ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES
• PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS
 Department of Environment and Nature Conservation; develop the
provincial strategy in conjunction with sector departments.
 Chair the Provincial Climate Change Committee
 Develop a data base where all climate change projects are registered
 Update outcome 10 reporting templates
 Sector departments to develop sector specific strategies.
- Water sector
- Renewable energy
- Clean Development mechanisms
ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES (cont.)
• SALGA
 Coordinate all climate change activities at local government level.
 Ensure that local authorities start to incorporate climate change related
activities into there IDP’s and projects.
• LOCAL GOVERNMENT
 Community leaders – persuading and helping local organisations to reduce
emissions.
 Reducing emissions from their own activities and operations –
procurement, buildings, waste and transportation.
 Helping to shape low-carbon communities through strategic planning,
green jobs, building control, retro fitting houses, transport infrastructure
and other projects.
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ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES (cont.)
 Embedding climate change action as a priority in sustainable community
strategies, local economic development (LED), spatial development
frameworks (SDFs) and waste strategies.
 Advocating, educating, encouraging and incentivizing low-carbon
lifestyles.
 Advocating the use and documentation of indigenous knowledge.
• COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS / NGO’s
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Assist with the identification and implementation of sustainable projects.
Monitor and evaluate environmental trends.
Advise local authorities on mitigation and adaptation projects.
Access funding for climate change projects
ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES (cont.)
• INDUSTRY / MANUFACTURING
 Develop GHG inventories, strategies and plans on how to move away from
dirty technology and implement greener technology.
 Reduce emissions to comply with legislative requirements.
 Assist with the creation of a green economy within there social
responsibility plans.
 Create partnerships with local government.
 Implement air monitoring programs.
OUTCOMES
• The Department wants to pro actively build the knowledge
base and capacity of communities to adapt to the inevitable
impacts of climate change, especially when it involves the
implementation of basic services, water resources
management, infrastructure planning, agriculture,
biodiversity, green jobs. renewable energy and health
programs.
• Green House Gases (GHG) must peak, plateau and decline.
This means it must stop growing at the latest by 2020 - 2025 ,
stabilize for up to ten years and then decline in absolute
terms.
OUTCOMES
• An inventory of baseline data of present plant and animals in
the province must be developed as a matter of urgency. To
this end joint efforts are needed involving DENC, SANBI,
Environmental NGO’s, Universities, Conservation SA and other
stakeholders.
• Plans to deal with land degrading as there is a need to prevent
and manage and to improve land use.
• A provincial water security plan to be developed in
conjunction with all stakeholders.
• The people of the Northern Cape shall share in the creation of
Green jobs in the province.
OUTCOMES
• Water conservation and demand management must be a
priority for both communities and local authorities.
• Flood and drought preparedness will need to receive more
attention.
• Alternative water resources including rain harvesting, mist
water harvesting should be further investigated as an
adaptive measures.
• A comprehensive plan must be developed to address
educational awareness programs on Climate change and
Green jobs in communities and schools.
OUTCOMES
• A sustainable plan of action must also be developed to
address the vulnerable communities within the Province so as
to lessen the impact of climate change on these communities.
• Attention must also be given to the development of
renewable energy developments within the province.
CHALLENGES
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Financial resources
Human resources
Cooperation between stakeholders
Accuracy of data received
Lack of monitoring equipment
The different models used in predicting climate
change (different results)
• Changing human behaviour
POLICY PROCESS
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Workshopped in all Districts.
Currently a working document.
To be circulated for comment end March 2012.
In corporate comments in to document.
Circulate for final comment.(end May 2012)
Submit to MEC for approval.(end June 2012)
Publish document. (end July 2012)
We have one globe, with many environments that are
essential to our existence lets do the right thing. If there
is no healthy environment, there is no life. So what
does money or wealth then mean.
THANK YOU