Please take note that the National Climate Change Response White Paper was published on 13 October 2011.
We have for ease of reference included the Executive Summary of the this white paper, and the full document can be accessed at http://www.info.gov.za/view/DynamicAction?pageid=623&myID=315009 [CTRL + click to follow this link].
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Climate change is already a measurable reality and along with other developing countries, South Africa is especially vulnerable to its impacts. This White Paper presents the South African Government’s vision for an effective climate change response and the long-term, just transition to a climate-resilient and lower-carbon economy and society. South Africa’s response to climate change has two objectives:
| · | Effectively manage inevitable climate change impacts through interventions that build and sustain South Africa’s social, economic and environmental resilience and emergency response capacity. |
| · | Make a fair contribution to the global effort to stabilise greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that avoids dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system within a timeframe that enables economic, social and environmental development to proceed in a sustainable manner. |
This response is guided by principles set out in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the National Environmental Management Act, the Millennium Declaration and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. These principles are detailed in section 3.
The overall strategic approach for South Africa’s climate change response is needs driven and customised; developmental; transformational, empowering and participatory; dynamic and evidence-based; balanced and cost effective; and integrated and aligned.
In terms of strategic priorities, the White Paper sets out South Africa’s climate change response strategy to achieve the National Climate Change Response Objective in a manner consistent with the outlined principles and approach and which is structured around the following strategic priorities: risk reduction and management; mitigation actions with significant outcomes; sectoral responses; policy and regulatory alignment; informed decision making and planning; integrated planning; technology research, development and innovation; facilitated behaviour change; behaviour change through choice; and resource mobilisation. See section 4 for details of the elements of the response policy.
In terms of adaptation, the National Climate Change Response includes a risk-based process to identify and prioritise short- and medium-term adaptation interventions to be addressed in sector plans. The process will also identify the adaptation responses that require coordination between sectors and departments and it will be reviewed every five years. For the immediate future, sectors that need particular attention are water, agriculture and forestry, health, biodiversity and human settlements. Resilience to climate variability and climate change-related extreme weather events will be the basis for South Africa’s future approach to disaster management and we will use region-wide approaches where appropriate. Section 5 expands on the adaptation part of the response policy.
South Africa’s approach to mitigation, which is addressed by section 6 of the response policy, balances the country’s contribution as a responsible global citizen to the international effort to curb global emissions with the economic and social opportunities presented by the transition to a lower-carbon economy as well as with the requirement that the country successfully tackles the development challenges facing it.
The key elements in the overall approach to mitigation will be:
| · | Using a National GHG Emissions Trajectory Range, against which the collective outcome of all mitigation actions will be measured. |
| · | Defining desired emission reduction outcomes for each significant sector and sub-sector of the economy based on an in-depth assessment of the mitigation potential, best available mitigation options, science, evidence and a full assessment of the costs and benefits. |
| · | Adopting a carbon budget approach to provide for flexibility and least-cost mechanisms for companies in relevant sectors and/or sub-sectors and, where appropriate, translating carbon budgets into company level desired emission reduction outcomes. |
| · | Requiring companies and economic sectors or sub-sectors for which desired emission reduction outcomes have been established to prepare and submit mitigation plans that set out how they intend to achieve the desired emission reduction outcomes. |
| · | Developing and implementing a wide range and mix of different types of mitigation approaches, policies, measures and actions that optimise the mitigation outcomes as well as job creation and other sustainable developmental benefits. This optimal mix of mitigation actions will be developed to achieve the defined desired emission reduction outcomes for each sector and sub-sector of the economy by ensuring that actions are specifically tailored to the potential, best available solutions and other relevant conditions related to the specific sector, sub-sector or organisation concerned. |
| · | The deployment of a range of economic instruments to support the system of desired emissions reduction outcomes, including the appropriate pricing of carbon and economic incentives, as well as the possible use of emissions offset or emission reduction trading mechanisms for those relevant sectors, sub-sectors, companies or entities where a carbon budget approach has been selected. |
| · | A national system of data collection to provide detailed, complete, accurate and up-to-date emissions data in the form of a Greenhouse Gas Inventory and a Monitoring and Evaluation System to support the analysis of the impact of mitigation measures. |
In addition to the direct physical impacts of climate change, there are also secondary economic impacts where South Africa may be economically vulnerable to response measures - measures taken both internationally and nationally, to reduce GHG emissions. As discussed in section 7, Government will take a multi-pronged approach to addressing and managing response measures, especially in respect of those that may have negative economic impacts.
A suite of Near-term Priority Flagship Programmes consisting of both new initiatives and the scaling up of existing initiatives will be implemented while the first sectoral desired emission reduction outcomes and carbon budgets are being developed and initial adaptation interventions prioritised. This component is addressed in section 8.
For job creation, as described in section 9, the National Climate Change Response aims to limit jobs contraction to those areas of the economy where excessive carbon intensity is unsustainable, whilst promoting and expanding the green economy sectors. The National Climate Change Response also aims to promote investment in human and productive resources that will grow the green economy. To do this, Government will assess the vulnerability of the different economic sectors to climate change and develop Sector Job Resilience Plans.
To mainstream climate-resilient development, section 10 notes that all Government departments and state-owned enterprises will need to review the policies, strategies, legislation, regulations and plans falling within their jurisdictions to ensure full alignment with the National Climate Change Response within two years of the publication of this policy. On the basis of the outcome of these reviews, government will determine what adjustments need to be made to achieve alignment with the goals and objectives of the National Climate Change Response, and will identify any additional legislative or regulatory measures that are needed. The National Climate Change Response itself will be reviewed every five years from the publication of this policy.
All sectors of the South African society will take part in the effort to mainstream climate-resilient development. Existing institutional arrangements, such as the Cabinet Clusters, the National Planning Commission, the Forum of South African Directors-General, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Environment Affairs, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change and the multi-stakeholder National Committee on Climate Change will be used to drive this new policy direction.
Government departments will start 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 actions to reduce risks to themselves, their households and property.
South Africa needs to mobilise financial, human and knowledge resources to effectively address climate change. To this end, Government will use existing financial institutions and instruments and it will help to develop new ones. This includes international financial assistance specifically for climate change response actions. During the initial period of transition to a climate-resilient and lower-carbon economy and society, Government will establish an interim climate finance coordination mechanism to secure the necessary resources for priority programmes. See section 11 for further details on resource mobilisation.
To formulate effective responses to climate change, South Africa needs a country-wide monitoring system to measure climate variables at scales appropriate to the institutions that must implement climate change responses.
To monitor the success of responses to climate change, and to replicate the ones that have worked well, we need to measure their cost, outcome and impact. To this end, South Africa will, within two years of the publication of this policy, design and publish a draft Climate Change Response Monitoring and Evaluation System. Although the Climate Change Response Monitoring and Evaluation System will be based on South African scientific measurement standards and will be undertaken through the Presidency’s Outcomes-Based System, it is expected that the system will evolve with international Measuring, Reporting and Verification requirements.
Section 12 details the systems needed to monitor and evaluate climate change and our responses to it.
--end executive summary from National Climate Change Response White Paper --
RESPONSE FROM THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS IN THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE WHITE PAPER
The Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs held public hearings, in March 2011, on the National Climate Change Response Green Paper 2010 that was released for written comment by Ms. Ednah Molewa MP, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, in Government Gazette 33801 Notice 1083 of 2010, dated 25 November 2010. The substantive insights offered at these hearings provided departmental officials an opportunity to incorporate substantial changes to the Green Paper and formulate an informed and improved White Paper.
The Portfolio Committee invited all interested stakeholders to submit written comments on the National Climate Change Response White Paper, by not later than 16h00, on 20 October 2011. Public hearings are targeted for October/November 2011 and will probably commence around 25 October to 11 November 2011, with the Departmental briefings taking place on 18 and 19 October 2011.
It was reiterated that the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs retains the right to regulate its own proceedings, including the right to decide whether to allow oral representations in respect of any submission, and the format, procedure and duration of any oral representation.
Electronic submissions can be made at: tmadubela@parliament.gov.za <mailto:tmadubela@parliament.gov.za>
For enquiries, contact Ms Madubela: 021 403 3713 or 083 304 9586.
--issued by Adv Johnny de Lange, MP: Chairperson: Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs on 30 September 2011--
It is worth noting that the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs held the Climate Change White Paper: Department of Environment Affairs briefing on 18 October 2011, as planned, with the Chairperson presiding over this meeting being Mr J De Lange (ANC) - Lucinda.
We trust that this information will serve to be of assistance and that you will not hesitate to contact our offices should you require any further assistance herein.
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Lucinda
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