Western Cape Government joins call for action on drought, wildfire and extreme heat voiced at COP29

The Western Cape Government has joined subnational leaders from across the globe in calling for urgent action to tackle the growing threats of drought, wildfire, and extreme heat.

This follows a statement issued by the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership (MCAP), of which the Western Cape Government is a founding member, at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) annual Conference of Parties (COP) meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan. The statement highlights the urgent need for coordinated action to address these challenges, which are already having a devastating impact on communities and ecosystems across the regions.

Anton Bredell, Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs, and Development Planning, said: “Climate change is a global issue, but the impacts are being felt locally. We are committed to taking action to protect our communities and our environment.”

Some of the Western Cape Government’s climate change priorities include:

• Improving water security includes investing in water infrastructure, promoting water conservation, and developing drought-resistant crops.
• Mitigating the risk of extreme heat and wildfires: This includes implementing firebreaks, educating the public on extreme heat and fire safety, and investing in firefighting resources.
• Reducing the province’s carbon footprint: This includes transitioning to renewable energy, promoting energy efficiency, and investing in public transport.

“The Western Cape is proud to be the Chair for the Drought working group of MCAP and member of the other two working groups, Fire and Extreme heat, and will work with the other Mediterranean regions to catalyse action, working together across borders to protect livelihoods and regions from these climate impacts. Through MCAP, we are committed to designing and implementing multi-hazard projects for resilience and climate adaptation through intensive collaboration and capacity building, and support and enable science and research that will yield global results for all regions,” said Minister Ivan Meyer, responsible for Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism.

The Western Cape Government is already implementing several programs to build climate resilience. These include the Western Cape Municipal Energy Resilience Initiative, which is helping municipalities transition to renewable energy and improve energy efficiency. The SmartAgri Plan is assisting farmers in adapting to the changing climate and becoming more water-efficient. The Ecological Infrastructure Investment Framework, which is aimed at protecting and restoring the province’s natural ecosystems, plays a vital role in mitigating the impacts of climate change.

The Western Cape Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to create a more climate-resilient province. The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change, co-chaired by Minister Meyer and Minister Bredell, spearheads the provincial efforts.

The MCAP Participating Regions are:

• Baja California Sur, Mexico
• Biobio, Chile
• California, USA
• Catalonia, Spain
• Emilia-Romagna, Italy
• Maroc-Oriental, Morocco
• New South Wales, Australia
• Occitanie, France
• Rabat-Salé-Kenitra, Morocco
• Region of Central Greece, Greece
• Santiago, Chile
• South Australia, Australia
• Tanger-Tetuán-Al Hoceïma, Morocco
• Victoria, Australia
• Western Cape, South Africa

Media enquiries

Wouter Kriel
Spokesperson for Minister Anton Bredell
Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Cell: 079 694 3085
Email: Wouter.kriel@westerncape.gov.za

Daniel Johnson
Spokesperson for Dr Ivan Meyer:
Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism
Cell: 079 900 4231
Email: Daniel.johnson@westerncape.gov.za