Climate change response strategy released for public comment

While the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is underway this week in Glasgow, the Western Cape Government through the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning is driving the revision of the Western Cape Climate Change Response Strategy, through its public participation process

The draft strategy will be available for public contribution from today, 8 November 2021, and can be viewed here link. The commenting period will run until 24 January 2022. We will also be engaging directly with sector grouping including business, youth and civil society to gather and include their inputs.

Provisional objectives identified for the strategy include:

• An effective response to the climate emergency;
• Equitable and inclusive economic and social transition to net zero emissions by 2050;
• Investment in natural capital to reduce climate risks and increase socio-economic resilience; and
• Exemplary governance to lead a Just Transition.

The strategy will respond to the urgency of the climate crisis and be sensitive to social justice issues such as:

• Gender responsiveness;
• Inclusion of a ‘Just Transition’ that is fair and doesn’t leave people behind; and
• The challenge of planning for informality and vulnerability.

“The Western Cape is already experiencing the impact of climate change which is exacerbating social and economic challenges and undermining efforts to improve people’s wellbeing. Extreme climate patterns will make day-to-day activities increasingly difficult, especially those taking place outdoors or dependent on a secure supply of water,” said Anton Bredell, the Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape.

“In responding to the unfolding climate emergency, the Western Cape must help with the climate fight by driving the just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. This will be achieved by protecting and investing in our natural capital and rapidly accelerating the green growth trajectory. Our aspiration is to be a net-zero emissions province by 2050, resulting in a more resilient economy and a society that will thrive despite the shocks and stresses posed by climate change”, Bredell stated.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde calls on all relevant NGOs, research institutions, civil society organisations, and private sector stakeholders, including youth and gender, focused groups to provide their input into the first draft conceptual strategy. “Climate change will impact everyone in some way, but especially vulnerable groups such as women, the elderly, children and the disabled will experience climate change more severely because of their physical condition or economic vulnerability.”

“But it does present opportunities across the spectrum of economic and social development, and government services:

• Early investment in adaptation to climate change will be cheaper in the long run.
• Many climate-resilient technologies are also improvements over the status quo.
• Climate compatible intervention nearly always brings about co-benefits that strengthen people’s resilience, and improve the condition of the natural environment”, said Winde.

South Africa is set to benefit from a substantial mobilisation of climate change response funding from wealthy nations. In a deal announced at the COP26 climate summit, South Africa is set to receive $8.5bn (R131 bn) to help end the reliance on coal.

“This is a major turning point for us, and we must use the momentum of this to gain input from the public and private sector on how the Western Cape can benefit from the flow of climate finance,” Premier Winde said.

The provincial strategy is a transversal one, providing policy direction in response to climate-related risks and potential opportunities aimed at enabling economic growth that is low-carbon intensive and further creates an advanced Green Economy.

The Western Cape Government calls on stakeholders to contribute to the crafting of the strategy, which is a collaborative document and one representative of a diversity of perspectives with a common vision and objectives, namely responding to climate change.

For more information follow the link.

For more information, contact DEADP.ClimateChan@westerncape.gov.za

ENDS