Download Ms N R Bhengu (ANC) to ask the Minister of Water and

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MINISTER
QUESTION NO. 186 FOR ORAL REPLY: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
A draft reply to Mr B G Nthebe (North West: ANC) to the above-mentioned question is enclosed for
your consideration.
MR MARK GORDON
DIRECTOR-GENERAL (ACTING)
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED AS/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION NO. 186
CO590E
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
(For oral reply)
QUESTION NO. 186 {CO590E}
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 37 OF 2015
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 19 October 2015
Mr B G Nthebe (North West: ANC) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs:
(1)
In respect of the upcoming COP 21 event in Paris, (a) what is the level of investment in the
Green Fund and (b) what are the details of the financial commitments directed towards climate
change mitigation and adaptation projects in each province;
(2)
What is her department’s experience with the functioning of the One Environmental System to
date, particularly on the number of times she was consulted on applications in environmentally
sensitive areas;
(3)
How many interventions were required since the inception of the new permitting system?
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION NO. 186
CO590E
186. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS REPLIES:
(1) (a)
Firstly, we need to point out that South Africa does not use only the National Green Fund to
respond to Climate Change but other programs as well.
Since establishment (2012/13), South Africa’s Green Fund has received fiscal support of
approximately R 1.2 billion up to 2017/18 financial year. The projects approved by the Board
of the fund respond to both mitigation and adaptation as outlined in the National Climate
Change Response Policy. The total amount of approvals as of 31 March 2015 was R1 126
241 436. The amount is inclusive of budget allocations to all components of the Green Fund
(i.e., investment projects, research and development and capacity development initiatives).
(b)
Out of the total of 55 approved projects, 40 projects inclusive of investment projects and
capacity building addresses adaptation whilst 15 projects respond to climate change
mitigation.
Table1 provides the geographical distribution of the investments projects only and associated
budget across the provices.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION NO. 186
CO590E
(2)
The One Environmental System is implemented by the three Departments, namely the
Departments of Mineral Resources, Water Affairs and Sanitation and Environmental Affairs.
One needs to bear in mind that the One Environmental System has only been implemented
from 8 December 2014 and the three Departments are therefore still in the transitional phase of
implementation. Most of the licensing is still done in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum
Resources Development Act, 2002 in terms of the transitional provisions as the applications
were received before 8 December 2015, but the Department of Mineral Resources being the
competent authority for mining activities in terms of the National Environmental Management
Act, 1998, confirmed that environmental authorisations are already issued in terms of the
environmental legislation for mining activities. Some implementation challenges were
experienced, because some of the regulations were not in place on 8 December 2014 as was
envisaged and also because the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment
Bill, 2013, which contains essential amendments pertaining to the One Environmental System,
was referred back to Parliament. The One Environmental System is coordinated by the
Interdepartmental Project Implementation Committee (IPIC) which meets quarterly and report
to DGs and Ministerial Executive Committees MinMEC. The licensing issues are dealt with
through Working Group 7 and 5, which are MinTech Working Group.
In terms of collaboration in relation to environmentally sensitive areas there is a Joint Planning
Task Team, a task team of the IPIC, in place, which meets monthly and on which the Department
of Environmental Affairs, the Department of Mineral Resources, Limpopo and Mpumalanga
provincial departments responsible for environmental affairs are represented. The Western
Cape provincial department responsible for environmental affairs attends as and when
necessary. Issues pertaining to protected areas, World Heritage Sites and sensitive areas are
discussed. The Department of Mineral Resources and the Department of Environmental Affairs
developed Mining and Biodiversity Guideline document pertaining to the consideration of
biodiversity impacts by the mining sector, which is used in decision-making.
Capacity building is done in environmental management and waste management by the
Department of Environmental Affairs through the Working Groups or on request. The
Department of Mineral Resources confirmed that additional posts had been created to enable
that Department to issue environmental authorisations. The IPIC has a Capacity Task Team
that deals with the capacity required for the implementation of the One Environmental System.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION NO. 186
CO590E
3)
No formal requests for interventions were requested in terms of section 24C(2C) or 31D(4) of
the National Environmental Management Act, 1998.
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NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION NO. 186
CO590E