INTRODUCTION

1. Briefing to Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs on national climate change policy process and international climate change negotiations16th September 2009

2. INTRODUCTION • Climate Change international negotiations • Climate Change Policy Development Process • International Position • Adaptation – to the impacts of climate change • Mitigation - national efforts to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions • Policy Process and critical path

3. INTERNATIONAL • UNFCCC & its’ Kyoto Protocol – stalemate since 2001 (USA not joining Kyoto) • Since 2005 formal negotiations divided into 2 Tracks (reconfirmed in 2007) – • The Kyoto Track (for Developed country mitigation targets beyond 2012) • The Convention Track (Adaptation; Mitigation - targets for USA; Developing country action; Finance & Technology) • Parallel political processes

4. 2008 - COP 14 PoznanMove into negotiating mode • COP 14 – Poznan: important step to COP 15 • Progress on negotiation of Annex I emission reduction targets for 2nd commitment period • Readiness to move into serious mode of negotiation in 2009

5. 2009 – Parallel Political Processes • Major Economies Forum (Jan – Jul 09): • “Greenland Ministerial” (Jul 09) – • G8 (Jul 09) – Limited progress - agreed on • 2 deg C as maximum level of warming; • on long-term global goal of 50% emission reduction by 2050, with no baseline, no midterm emission reduction target, and no finance commitments. • Rejected by G5.

6. 2009 Formal Negotiations • 3 formal negotiations completed (Apr, Jun, Aug) • 2 sessions before Copenhagen: Oct & Nov • Current status of negotiations: • Convention Track: 4 building blocks: adaptation, mitigation, technology & finance • 1st and 2nd readings 200 pg text • August: attempt to reduce text BUT discussions rapidly reached CORE issues • Kyoto Protocol Track: discussion of aggregate and individual reduction targets beyond 2012. • Pledges is only 13% (not in line with science 25 – 40%); • Developing countries propose at least 40%

7. Positions of key negotiating blocks • European Union: pledge 20% by 2020, & 30% if new agreement; quantified Dev C mitig action; silent on finance; soft on the USA • Umbrella Group (Australia, Canada, Japan etc) : low mitigation pledges, conditional on Dev C’s commitments; weak adaptation; no finance; differentiation among Dev C’s • USA: differentiation among Dev C’s, trying to create divisions in G77 • G77+ China (Developing Countries) ; United on principles, divided on detail

8. Current SA Cabinet Position – Two track approach • Kyoto Track – amendment - predetermined by Article 3.9 of KP; • Convention track - a supplemental legally binding instrument interpreted with UNFCCC & KP Legal linkage between Kyoto & convention legal instruments to address the USA (as non-Kyoto Party) & who must take legally binding target comparable to Kyoto Parties

9. Current SA Cabinet Position –Overarching Objectives • Deal must: • be inclusive, fair and effective; • balance between adaptation and mitigation • balance development and climate imperatives. • Shared vision that solving the climate problem only possible if in the context of: • Dev C’s priorities of food security, poverty eradication and promoting development. • Equity & differentiated responsibility for the past but common responsibility for the future

10. Current SA Cabinet Position • On Adaptation: • A comprehensive international prog on adaptation, • Prioritise Africa - immediate & future impacts • Upscaled finance, technology and capacity building. • On Mitigation: • legally binding emission reduction commitments for developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol • USA-comparable, binding reduction commitment & compliance under the Convention. • framework for mitigation action by developing countries, supported and enabled by finance, technology and capacity building ie No legally binding targets

11. Current SA Cabinet Position • On Finance, Technology, Capacity blding • Essential to build resilient economies and to “leapfrog” to low carbon growth and dev • Integrated Means of Implement mechanism • Massively scaled up, predictable & sustainable flows (1% of Global GDP – ie approx $400 bn by 2020 of which 25% for adaptation) • Mobilised from multiple sources – including: assessed contribution, carbon market, bilateral, IFI’s & private sector • Governance – needs and country driven, direct access, equitable distribution

12. Vulnerability of SA position • Coal based economy (transition lag time) • High emissions per capita & in total (top 20 emitter & contribute just < 50% of all Africa) • Associated with so-called “major or advanced developing economies” • Relatively wealthy with institutional capacity • Extremely vulnerable to impacts of climate change • Targeted by the USA for differentiation – (ie. take commitments, no access to fin or tech)

13. National Climate Change Policy Process • Agreement that climate change is a key challenge facing us now and into the future. • Adaptation to the impacts of climate change critical issue • Also need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions into the future • Policy addresses all of the above

14. Consultative Process • Working Group 3; • IGCCand NCCC • International, Economic and Infrastructure Clusters • Climate Change Conferences • Draft policy documents to be consulted widely

15. Critical Path • Draft Zero Policy position that builds on existing and current work (LTMS, 2nd National Communication, Vulnerability Atlas, Adaptation sector framework , sector and constituency consultations etc by end September • Green Paper April 2010 • White Paper end 2010

16. Adaptation • Work in progress to develop adaptation responses sector by sector and in geographical areas (provinces and local government) • Key sectors include: water, health, biodiversity, marine and oceans, agriculture, disaster management, social development

17. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION SECTORS COUNTRY ADAPTATION RESILLIENCE + ACCLIMATION OUR PEOPLE Public Health Human Settlements Livelihoods OUR RESOURCES Land Terrestrial , Aquatic, Marine Biodiversity Water OUR INDUSTRIES Agriculture Forestry Tourism Coastal Management Business/ Insurance SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: Research, Innovation ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS: Punitive and Incentives INSTITUTIONAL & CAPACITY BUILDING: Public awareness, Operational Systems

18. Adaptation cont…. • Central importance of information in adapting to impacts of climate change effectively • Key role of SA Weather Services and Disaster Management • Key role of Science and Technology • National adaptation responses must be downscaled to provincial and local levels for maximum effectiveness

19. National Adaptation priority actions • Effective climate change adaptation inputs, based on priority sectors and unique geographical circumstances to national policy development process • Comprehensive determination of the national vulnerability to climate change and SA’s adaptive capacity (adaptation scenarios –cost of action v/s inaction) • Ensuring the development of a climate change adaptation implementation programme in key sectors and • Ensuring the coordination and alignment of policies, strategies initiatives , legislation and regulations of key adaptation sectors

20. Adaptation Cont… • DWEA working in partnership with all affected parties, including civil society and science establishment • Need for integration of climate change issues into provincial and municipal planning • Need for information to ensure that current plans take long term trends into account

21. Mitigation • SA Energy Intense economy • Highly dependent on fossil fuels • Need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and at same time ensure that economic growth and development are not compromised • LTMS – peak, plateau and decline trajectory

22. Mitigation cont… • Need to start now to put in place interventions to reduce greenhouse gases • Energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean and new technology interventions, nuclear energy, and economic and fiscal instruments all needed • Much opportunity and potential at provincial and local government levels as well as at national level

23. THE MITIGATION CHALLENGE – THE SOUTH AFRICAN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION PROFILE - 2000

24. THE MITIGATION CHALLENGE – THE IMPLICATIONS OF GROWTH WITHOUT CONSTRAINTS

25. CHALLENGES AND OUTSTANDING ISSUES – 2009 SUMMIT CONSENSUS • Pursue “Required by Science” - <2oC • Transition to a low carbon economy in the context of equity, sustainable development, and poverty eradication • Maintain and strengthen the Science-Policy interface • Balance adaptation and mitigation – integrate adaptation into development planning • Local level climate resilience and access to energy for the poor • Scale up renewables and energy efficiency

26. CHALLENGES AND OUTSTANDING ISSUES – 2009 SUMMIT CONSENSUS • Energy efficiency standards • Government coordination and policy alignment • Price on carbon – mix of instruments requires further work • Fast track CDM tax incentives • Massively upscale public awareness • Gender mainstreaming • Mobilise resources including for R+D

27. THANK YOU