https://www.engineeringnews.co.za
Africa|Coal|Energy|Environment|Gas|Industrial|Power|Renewable Energy|Renewable-Energy|Services|Sustainable|Technology
Africa|Coal|Energy|Environment|Gas|Industrial|Power|Renewable Energy|Renewable-Energy|Services|Sustainable|Technology
africa|coal|energy|environment|gas|industrial|power|renewable-energy|renewable-energy-company|services|sustainable|technology

Climate change threatens South Africa's socioeconomic development – Creecy

Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy

Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy

Photo by Donna Slater

19th February 2020

By: News24Wire

  

Font size: - +

Climate change poses a "significant risk" to South Africa's socio-economic development, Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy said in the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address on Tuesday.

She acknowledged Ramaphosa's undertaking for a "decisive shift in our energy trajectory at a time when humankind faces its greatest existential threat to a sustainable future, namely climate change".

"Science tells us that our country and continent are warming much faster than the rest of the world," Creecy said.

She added while the world had warmed by roughly one degree compared to pre-industrial times, the rate was twice that for Africa.

Creecy said extreme weather events had already affected the country, with the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape recently experiencing the longest periods of drought in recorded history, KwaZulu-Natal and the Wild Coast experiencing severe storms and flooding with unprecedented frequency, and coastal cities facing the effects of rising sea levels and storm surges.

She said it was now a scientifically accepted fact that climate change resulted from greenhouse gas emissions.

Ultimate injustice

"It is the ultimate injustice that developing nations, such as our own, which have historically contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions, are the most affected."

She said historically, Africa contributed just 1% of greenhouses gasses. Currently, it produces 4%, with South Africa responsible for half of that.

Creecy said South Africa's vulnerability to climate change was exacerbated by our economic inequality, poverty and our current dependence on coal-powered power stations.

"So, no matter how who look at it, climate change poses significant risks to our country's current and future socio-economic development.

"But all is not yet lost, there is still time to take decisive action to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and to adapt to a warmer world.

She said as a "responsible global citizen", South Africa should also contribute to lower emissions.

Creecy added that in consultation with all stakeholders, South Africa was finalising its strategy for lower emissions.

She said together with the Department of Science and Technology, her department would intensify research and development of green technologies.

"As we transmission, we must be mindful of our country's current dependence on fossil fuels, both for energy generation and foreign exchange earnings.

"Our movement to a lower carbon, climate-resilient economy and society must be undertaken in a responsible, phased and planned manner."

Creecy added the soon-to-be constituted presidential commission on climate change would be tasked with co-ordinating the work of all sectors of the government and society in a common effort to ensure a just transition.

The Climate Change Bill will be brought to the National Assembly this year, she said.

Creecy met with the South African Weather Services and it agreed to educate local communities about climate change.

She said her department would spend R1.9-billion this year to restore wetlands, estuaries and coastal dunes to better protect human settlements from storms and floods, adding climate change could only be addressed by the world's nations working together.

"Accordingly, we must be seriously concerned that one of the world's biggest emitters has taken a decision to withdraw from the Paris Accord," she said of the Trump administration's decision to withdraw from the accord.

Responsible global citizen

"Our country is a responsible global citizen. We will not shrink from the task that confronts us."

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa also raised the matter, saying the state of the environment needed attention, especially in terms of pollution and erosion.

"I agree with you, Mr President, that climate change is a reality of which South Africans must be aware," he said.

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen welcomed Ramaphosa's announcement that the country's energy supply would be augmented by renewable energy, natural gas, and hydro.

Edited by News24Wire

Comments

Latest Multimedia

Magazine video image
Magazine round up | 29 March 2024
Updated 1 hour 6 minutes ago

Showroom

Booyco Electronics
Booyco Electronics

Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Immersive Technologies
Immersive Technologies

Immersive Technologies is the world's largest, proven and tested supplier of simulator training solutions to the global resources industry.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.055 0.106s - 172pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now