SUMMING UP WSLG CLIMATE CHANGE DELIBERATIONS

FOR ACTION

water sector leadership group

WSLG Chair : Thandeka Mbassa

WSLG Meeting 18 November 2011

water sector leadership group

• Agreed it is about doing what we should but smarter – Addressing Climate Change through Smart Water Management

• However must take care that this message does not lead to complacency or sense of business as usual

• A new paradigm was called for:-– An Economic Revolution in which we – South Africa &

the water sector - invest in a sustainable future in which we protect our world, our water and our means of survival … rather than counting the cost. This means:-

water sector leadership group

NEW PARADIGM

• Reprioritising our strategic focus & resources – no longer subsidise an unsustainable economy

• Investing in:-– Science & technology – Research & innovation– Appropriate environmentally

friendly technology – Active knowledge/lesson sharing– Local level survival strategies

/human scale interventions

ActionDWA, Treasury and sector (NWRS, Investment framework)

DWA, DST, DoEs,WRC, CSIR, Academic Institutions, WISA, Private Sector, WIN-SA, Advocacy NGOs

water sector leadership group

INVESTING IN SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

• Mainstreaming water in all development planning & promote integrated planning at all levels Not only water to align with other strategies but they to align with water!

• Advocacy & negotiations to ensure water globally is central to CC and COPs (Durban and beyond)…… Supported thru water activism (on-going) & COP 17 Water Sector Side Event

ActionDWA to drive within National, Provincial & Local Government + water use sectors

DWA to drive with DEA & DIA thru multi lateral global platformsWater/environment activists WSLG

water sector leadership group

MAINSTREAMING WATER

• Seizing the opportunity of heightened awareness of Climate Change to advocate & roll out mass awareness campaign – re the scarcity and value of water for water use efficiency, behavioural change, appropriate sanitation & informed decision making (especially politicians)

• Manage risk & ensure protection of the most vulnerable (who usually pay the price!)

ActionDWA & WLSG withDepts of HS LA&RD, Agriculture, Forestry, COGTA, SALGA, municipalitiesWISA, Agri-SA etcPrivate sectorCivil Society

DWA, COGTA, SALGA, cities & municipalities

water sector leadership group

All to the Helm – Everyone Counts!

• Water Sector to respond to and engage with the following which are in process:-1. White Paper on Climate Change2. National Development Plan 3. NWRS (+ Water Reconciliation

strategies)4. Water & Climate Change Strategy

…… and thereafter to commit to implementation

ActionDWA with sector (WSLG) – as driven by:

DEA

NPC

DWA

DWA

Sector

water sector leadership group

CRITICAL GUIDING STRATEGIES

• Mainstream water conservation & demand management across all sectors

• Greater focus in Asset Management and Operations & Maintenance

• Support to dysfunctional WSAs and WSPs. Strengthen the TAS thru Enhanced Local Government Support Approach (ELGOSA)

ActionDriven by DWA enacted by sector & water use sectors

WSAs, WSPs

DWA with COGTA & SALGA

water sector leadership group

KEY ACTION RESPONSES

• Learning from Ethekwini and Jhb Cities:-– Reducing unaccounted for water– Reducing Water leaks– Bye-laws & tariffs to influence

water use efficiencies & penalise polluters

– Recycle sewerage effluent– Reduce water carbon footprint

thru renewable energy – hydro, waste methane, harvest biofuels

ActionDWA, Water Boards, TCTA, WSAs & WSPs

Lesson sharing – SALGA, WIN-SA, WRC, Professional networks

water sector leadership group

KEY ACTION RESPONSES

• Rethink governance & institutional landscape

• Strengthen collaboration and communication in sector

• Promote partnerships - ‘Let it go & others come to the table’

• Nurture respect & communication between state and citizen + participatory processes.

• Build DWA capacity

ActionDWA – NWRS & IRRWRC CSIR

DWA & Sector Fora

DWA - GovtPrivate SectorWater InstitutionsCivil Society

DWA

water sector leadership group

GOVERNANCE & INSTITUTIONS

• Finalise Water Resources Regulation Strategy

• Strengthen regulation capacity and compliance monitoring & enforcement

• Utilise sector platforms to ensure sector and water user accountability (bring strategies for endorsement – use peer pressure to ensure compliance and good practice)

ActionDWA

DWAMunicipal WSAs

WSLG, MCC, Provincial Sector Fora

water sector leadership group

REGULATION & ACCOUNTABILITY