Upload
maud-newman
View
227
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Climate Change in the context of Sustainable Development
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Provincial Government of the Western CapeRepublic of South Africa
Dipolelo Elford
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
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
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.
Sustainable Development Challenges
• Economic Development• Human Settlements • Energy and Climate Change • Water and Waste • Biodiversity and Natural Resource
Management • Governance
6 Thematic Areas of SDIP
• Biodiversity and Natural Resources
• Energy and Climate Change
• Sustainable Human Settlements
• Sustainable Transport
• Waste Management
• Water Use and Management
Sustaible Development Strategic context
International Obligations
WSSD (JPoI, GD)
Int. Conventions& Protocols
Agenda 21
National Strategic Obj’s
Social Economic
Environmental
W.Cape’s Strategic Obj’s
iKapa Elihlumayo
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
Transport
SIP
Key Growth Drivers for the
Province
Economic Development
MEDS
Environmental
& Planning
Urban/Spatial development
PSDF
Investment
PGDS
Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development
PROVINCIAL CONTEXT
CapeTown
Mountains
Little Karoo
Great Karoo
Namaqualand
Coastal plain
Mountains
Moist
DryMoist
plain
Coastal
Garden Route
The Western Cape Province
Mountains
NOT ALL DISTRICTS WILL BE AFFECTED THE SAME BY CLIMATE CHANGE
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
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
The Western Cape Climate Change Response Strategy and Action Plan
Contents
2. 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
1. The Provincial Action Plan - departmental projects, timeframes, budgets
Programme 1: Integrated Water supply and Infrastructure
Integrated water programme
Establish and implement the ecological reserve- incrementally
Conserve wetlands estuaries and rivers
Research areas: demand, cost benefit of irrigation, irrigation efficiency and profitability
Increase water efficiency through pricing strategies
Establish uninterrupted water conservancy targets
Systems maintenance and repairs
Establish science / environmental / government dialogue
Programme custodian: DWAF
Strengthen provincial capacity against 1:100 year drought
Programme 2: Climate change research and monitoring
Research, monitoring and validation
Extend weather stations network
Increase Air Quality stations; integrate other data - e.g. traffic
Research pest sensitivity to climate change
Research irrigation efficiency
Foster science / environmental / government dialogue
Programme custodian: PCCC / DEA&DP
Programme 3: Establish clear linkages between land stewardship, biodiversity, livelihoods and the economy
Linking land stewardship, livelihoods and economic growth
Source: OneWorld Sustainable Investment
Land stewardship - Effective land usage and land care - Protect, maintain and enhance
natural resources
Livelihoods - Strengthening vulnerable
communities - Conserving and developing resources - Maintaining diversity in livelihoods
Sustainable Economic Growth and Development
Action - Map the I in 50 year floodline – inform development - Integrate CC risks into
development planning and approva l processes
- Wetland conservation and fragile environment protection programme - Integrated Invasive Alien Species Programme - Increase fire risk ratings
Action - Develop SE scenarios - Impacts of CC & fisheries
on livelihoods - Touris m impacts
- Climate change, agriculture and rural livelihoods
Security through diversity
Programme 4: Reducing our carbon footprint and maximising energy efficiency opportunities
Mitigation programmes
Waste management, energy conversion and recycling initiatives
Air quality monitoring
Household fuel replacement
Transport fuel replacement & integrated housing and transport planning - town planning (IDPs)
Develop provincial industry and innovations - electric car, SWH installation capacity; Solar panels manufacturing
Energy efficiency - drive targets, incentivise through pricing strategies
Develop the provincial renewable resources
Programme custodians: DEA&DP; DME; CTC; DoT; Housing
Integrate CC into building standards, EE houses
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
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
Thank You