Climate Change: Some Basic Facts.

1. Presentation to South African Parliamentarians on the Occasion of the Preparatory workshop for COP 17 CONFERENCEA view on international responses to climate change. Lessons from experiencePresented by: Buyelwa Sonjica13 & 14 September 2011

2. Climate Change: Some Basic Facts. • Climate change is a central aspect of the broader environmental agenda, the latter being about sustainable growth and development. • The debate on climate change is informed by scientific evidence contained in the fourth assessment report of the IPCC which asserts that the temperatures are rising at an alarming rate such that we have to reduce it to two degrees Celsius or 1.5 degrees Celsius. • The cause for the rising temperatures is Carbon Emissions from human activities e.g. Electricity generation from coal, the cars we drive, the fires we burn etc. • The effects of climate change as experienced today are a legacy of 150yrs of industrialisation which happened and benefitted the OECD countries. • The developing world (G77 + China) contributed less to the creation of climate change, with Africa being the least contributor while remaining the most vulnerable of all continents. The debate then straddles six areas that constitute the context within which it is pursued. • Scientific- which gives us the technical information about the status of global climate • Historical- how did we get where we are in terms of global warming and who is responsible. • Economic- Who must contribute, What, to achieve what is necessary to reverse the tide of rising temperatures. • Social- How will it affect me, you and my mother? What is our role. • Legal- Can there be an international regime that will govern or regulate our participation as the nations of the world to ensure fairness and compliance. • Technology- What kind of technology do we need to reduce the carbon emissions?

3. STRUCTURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS (a) Legal framework: (UNFCC,KYOTO Protocol, Bali Action Plan and Fourth Assessment Report) (b)Organisation and structure: Under the auspices of the United Nations • Formal Parties for Negotiations: G77+China, Developed Countries • Informal Parties: Major Economies Forum comprising of 17+ countries: ( including the following ; Germany, India, China, Italy,France,USA,UK,Australia,Russia,Poland,Indonesia,Japan, Spain, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, Switzerland, South Africa etc.) seen as biggest emitters and SA the only African country in this category

4. Cont.; STRUCTURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS • BASIC group: Brazil, South Africa, India and China • African Ministers Committee on Environment (AMCEN): 34 Least developed countries, SA being the highest emitter in Africa • OPEC countries in Africa • South Africa: Cabinet which leads the Climate Change negotiations, Parliament passes legislation, ratifies conventions and treaties, oversight on the implementation of legislation

5. Key political and legal Issues • All countries have a responsibility and almost all are committed to the reduction of green house emissions. • It is common knowledge that developed countries are more responsible for the creation of the problem whilst they are better poised to make a bigger contribution to combating the effects of climate change. ( Determined by the strengths of their economies and the unique socio-economic challenges and their societies) The approach has been to share the responsibility in a fair and equitable manner. • The common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities is a principle under the UNFCCC and the Bali action plan that seeks to guide that fairness in the contribution of nations. • Developed countries have to take targets in mitigating against climate change while developing countries must commit to actions to mitigate ( Bali Action Plan) N.B.The major issue is to find a legally binding regime that will make all countries contribute, comply and report in a manner that can be verifiable.

6. Cont.; Key political and legal Issues Complexities; • All countries go into negotiations wanting to protect their national interest. Compromises are made but countries refuse to give away what they think is vital for their economies • Combating climate change leads to a review of the national development plan. • Developed countries see combatting the effects of climate change as a major priority while developing countries see poverty alleviation as their major priority • Because of their vulnerability developing countries think that adaptation should take precedence over mitigation and with developed countries the opposite is true • There is an expectation from the developed world that, developing countries especially the emerging economies must carry a bigger burden in mitigation. • Within the developed world the countries that are signatories to the Kyoto Protocol are opposed to its second commitment

7. Cont.; Key political and legal Issues Complexities; • International Trade Competition between the developed and developing countries: it may be necessary for parliament to call for the separation of he WTO and the climate change debate. The issue of DOHA round are surfacing in the climate change debate; technology; and the transfer and intellectual property.

8. South Africa’s Position (i)An international Legal Instrument To protect the weaker countries being muzzled –out with no bargaining powers (ii) National Mandate for our National Interest; All countries are doing something and in South Africa we already have legislation across the sectors that is meant to assist with the reduction of emissions We as a country are doing a lot on climate change in the context of environmental management, we have a suite of legislation and policy across the sectors, these would include the energy mix policy, the IRP, the MPRDA, NEMA and the Integrated transport strategy, Science and technology etc. National position and mandate for COP 17 A balance between adaptation and mitigation and a balance between climate change imperatives and development imperatives (Iii) Consolidation of the African Agenda It is also important that South Africa plays a significant role in pursuing the continent’s common position

9. Topical Issues • Second commitment of the Kyoto Protocol will have to be balanced with what comes out of the negotiations (Bali Action Plan 1b1 Mitigation Targets by the USA and 1b2 Mitigation actions by developing countries) • Adaptation at the centre of ensuring support for developing countries • Implementation/establishment of institutions on finances technology etc. • Voluntary payment system must be replaced by a sustainable funding mechanism of additional money • Establishment of adaptation committee • Establishment of the Green Climate Fund

10. Role of Parliament Two Significant levels; (a). Contribution at COP17: • A debate about South Africa’s policy position on Climate Change before the COP17 Conference • Parliament should know key areas that have been identified by Cabinet for COP17 • There must be consultation between Parliament and the country’s the negotiation team • Parliaments to be formally represented at COP17 and all structures created within and during the conference( e.g. friends of the Chair, this is important to ensure transparency

11. Cont.; Role of Parliament b). Implementation and Oversight beyond COP17 • Ensure that Parliament monitors the implementation of existing policies • Integration of Climate Change into Broader Parliamentary Debates at least three time per annum: This must be aligned with the Negotiations schedule to keep-up with developments and dynamics. • Capacity to manage disasters resulting from climate change. Programmes for public education and awareness: Peoples Assembly and Taking Parliament to the People

12. Conclusion Concerns/ Questions South Africa is doing a lot and may be even way ahead of many countries ( sometimes being more like a developed country especially when we consider the sum total of what will be achieved through all the programmes that we have embarked on) The question to respond to regarding our participation is, • Do we want to be a leader in the world in combating climate change or do we want to lead the developing world? • What do we see as our priority poverty alleviation or combatting climate change? • To what extent are we pushing the national interest and how do we assess that, should this not be an area for the oversight role of parliament? • What is the socio-economic impact of climate change on our country, how do we ensure that the country benefits from the climate change? • Are we driving the climate change debate internally or are we reacting to external pressure? • What capacity do we need to respond and where are we lacking in that capacity? • How do we ensure participation by all stakeholders? • How do we relate to the continent? E.g. The establishment of institutions.

13. I Thank you