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Western Cape Context

Climate Change in the context of Sustainable Development Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Provincial Government of the Western Cape Republic of South Africa Dipolelo Elford. Western Cape Context. 5.3 Million citizens, 90% live in cities and towns

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Western Cape Context

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  1. Climate Change in the context of Sustainable DevelopmentDepartment of Environmental Affairs and Development PlanningProvincial Government of the Western CapeRepublic of South AfricaDipolelo Elford

  2. Western Cape Context • 5.3 Million citizens, 90% live in cities and towns • Growing economy and lower unemployment rate than national average • Home to two Biodiversity Hotspots – Cape Floristic Region and Succulent Karoo • Western Cape is an important tourist destination. In 2002/03 foreign direct investment from tourism = >R550 million • Bordered by >1000km of coastline • Energy security – key economic concern

  3. Sustainable Development Imperative • Vision - A sustainable home for all – now and forever • Sustainable Development Declaration • Sustainable Development Implementation Plan - Will be achieved through implementing integrated governance systems that promote economic growth in a manner that contributes to greater social equity and that maintains the ongoing capacity of the natural environment to provide the ecological services upon which socio-economic development depends

  4. Sustainable Development in the Province • Challenge: Balancing economic growth and environmental integrity • Western Cape Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) recognises that growth must take place within a sustainable development framework • The SDIP is one of several provincial strategies and plans that seeks to give expression to the Province’s vision of shared growth and integrated development.

  5. Sustainable Development Challenges • Economic Development • Human Settlements • Energy and Climate Change • Water and Waste • Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management • Governance

  6. 6 Thematic Areas of SDIP • Biodiversity and Natural Resources • Energy and Climate Change • Sustainable Human Settlements • Sustainable Transport • Waste Management • Water Use and Management

  7. Agenda 21 International Obligations WSSD (JPoI, GD) Int. Conventions & Protocols Social Economic National Strategic Obj’s Environmental W.Cape’s Strategic Obj’s iKapa Elihlumayo Sustaible DevelopmentStrategic context

  8. Sustainable Development Strategic Context • 1992: UN Conference on Environment and Development • 2002: World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) • 2002 Gauteng Declaration on the Role of Regional Governments in Sustainable Development • Western Cape Growth and Development Framework • iKapa elihlumayo Strategies • Integrated Development Planning • 2007: Western Cape Sustainable Development Implementation Plan • 2007: Western Cape Climate Change Response strategy and Action Plan

  9. Environmental & Planning PROVINCIAL CONTEXT Transport SIP Economic Development MEDS Urban/Spatial development PSDF Key Growth Drivers for the Province Sustainable Development Sustainable Development PGDS Investment

  10. The Western Cape Province Namaqualand Dry Moist NOT ALL DISTRICTS WILL BE AFFECTED THE SAME BY CLIMATE CHANGE Mountains Great Karoo Coastal plain Mountains Little Karoo Mountains CapeTown Garden Route Coastal plain Moist

  11. Key Predictions about Climate Change in the Western Cape • Changes are detectable and attributable • Warmer temperatures more so in the interior. • Drier conditions in the shoulder seasons, especially away from mountains • weaker cold fronts, (longer burn season). • Increased humidity and greater persistence of stronger southerly winds. • increased rainfall intensity and extreme events • Possible increases in inter-annual variability

  12. Climate Change threats to Sustainable Development in the Province • The 2005 - Climate Change Status Quo and vulnerability assessment Report which shows that climate change will have double the global average impact in the Western Cape. • Hotter and drier weather will lead to: - More fires, floods and drought - Changes and drop in agricultural production - Less water - Increased vulnerability of the poor

  13. The Western Cape Climate Change Response Strategy and Action Plan

  14. Contents • The Provincial Action Plan • - departmental projects, timeframes, budgets • Three Adaptation Programmes: • Water Supply and Infrastructure Management; • Climate Change Research and Monitoring; • Linking livelihoods, land stewardship and economic growth. • 4. One Mitigation Programme: • Reducing our carbon footprint and maximising energy efficiency opportunities

  15. Programme 1: Integrated Water supply and Infrastructure Conserve wetlands estuaries and rivers Establish and implement the ecological reserve- incrementally Research areas: demand, cost benefit of irrigation, irrigation efficiency and profitability Integrated water programme Establish science / environmental / government dialogue Increase water efficiency through pricing strategies Systems maintenance and repairs Establish uninterrupted water conservancy targets Strengthen provincial capacity against 1:100 year drought Programme custodian: DWAF

  16. Programme 2: Climate change research and monitoring Extend weather stations network Foster science / environmental / government dialogue Increase Air Quality stations; integrate other data - e.g. traffic Research, monitoring and validation Research irrigation efficiency Research pest sensitivity to climate change Programme custodian: PCCC / DEA&DP

  17. Programme 3: Establish clear linkages between land stewardship, biodiversity, livelihoods and the economy

  18. Programme 4: Reducing our carbon footprint and maximising energy efficiency opportunities Air quality monitoring Waste management, energy conversion and recycling initiatives Household fuel replacement Transport fuel replacement & integrated housing and transport planning - town planning (IDPs) Mitigation programmes Develop the provincial renewable resources Integrate CC into building standards, EE houses Energy efficiency - drive targets, incentivise through pricing strategies Develop provincial industry and innovations - electric car, SWH installation capacity; Solar panels manufacturing Programme custodians: DEA&DP; DME; CTC; DoT; Housing

  19. Environmental Authorisations • Reducing the cumulative impacts on water sources; • Water and energy efficiency measures; • Transport focus on public transport measures; • Development setbacks in coastal zones and flood prone areas; • Avoiding damage to wetlands, aquatic systems, forests, other fragile environments and biodiversity hotspots and corridors; • Avoiding development of high potential agricultural land; • Avoiding impacts and promoting environmental rights of socio-economically disadvantaged communities

  20. Conclusion • Climate change poses a particular challenge over and above the already existing challenge of achieving sustainable development • Key imperative is to adapt our provincial development initiatives and activities to minimise the impact of adverse climate trends on our citizen’s socio-economic development and on natural resource conservation • Need to limit green house gas emissions and improve energy security • Need to act sooner rather than later

  21. Thank You

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