Download prese - Parliamentary Monitoring Group

Presentation to South African Parliamentarians
on the Occasion of the Preparatory workshop for
COP 17 CONFERENCE
A view on international responses to climate
change. Lessons from experience
Presented by: Buyelwa Sonjica
13 & 14 September 2011
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• Climate Change: Some Basic
Facts.
• Climate change is a central aspect of the broader environmental
agenda, the latter being about sustainable growth and development.
• The debate on climate change is informed by scientific evidence
contained in the fourth assessment report of the IPCC which asserts
that the temperatures are rising at an alarming rate such that we
have to reduce it to two degrees Celsius or 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• The cause for the rising temperatures is Carbon Emissions from
human activities e.g. Electricity generation from coal, the cars we
drive, the fires we burn etc.
• The effects of climate change as experienced today are a legacy of
150yrs of industrialisation which happened and benefitted the OECD
countries.
• The developing world (G77 + China) contributed less to the creation
of climate change, with Africa being the least contributor while
remaining the most vulnerable of all continents.
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STRUCTURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS
(a) Legal framework: (UNFCC,KYOTO Protocol, Bali Action
Plan and Fourth Assessment Report)
(b) Organisation and structure: Under the auspices of the
United Nations
• Formal Parties for Negotiations: G77+China, Developed
Countries
• Informal Parties: Major Economies Forum comprising of 17+
countries: ( including the following ; Germany, India, China,
Italy,France,USA,UK,Australia,Russia,Poland,Indonesia,Japan,
Spain, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, Switzerland, South Africa etc.)
seen as biggest emitters and SA the only African country in this
category
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Cont.; STRUCTURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS
• BASIC group: Brazil, South Africa, India and China
• African Ministers Committee on Environment (AMCEN): 34 Least
developed countries, SA being the highest emitter in Africa
• OPEC countries in Africa
• South Africa: Cabinet which leads the Climate Change
negotiations, Parliament passes legislation, ratifies conventions
and treaties, oversight on the implementation of legislation
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Key political and legal Issues
• All countries have a responsibility and almost all are committed
to the reduction of green house emissions.
• It is common knowledge that developed countries are more
responsible for the creation of the problem whilst they are better
poised to make a bigger contribution to combating the effects of
climate change. ( Determined by the strengths of their economies
and the unique socio-economic challenges and their societies)
The approach has been to share the responsibility in a fair and
equitable manner.
• The common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities is
a principle under the UNFCCC and the Bali action plan that seeks
to guide that fairness in the contribution of nations.
• Developed countries have to take targets in mitigating against
climate change while developing countries must commit to
actions to mitigate ( Bali Action Plan)
N.B.The major issue is to find a legally binding regime that will
make all countries contribute, comply and report in a manner that
can be verifiable.
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Cont.; Key political and legal Issues
Complexities;
• All countries go into negotiations wanting to protect their
national interest. Compromises are made but countries refuse to
give away what they think is vital for their economies
• Combating climate change leads to a review of the national
development plan.
• Developed countries see combatting the effects of climate
change as a major priority while developing countries see poverty
alleviation as their major priority
• Because of their vulnerability developing countries think that
adaptation should take precedence over mitigation and with
developed countries the opposite is true
• There is an expectation from the developed world that,
developing countries especially the emerging economies must
carry a bigger burden in mitigation.
• Within the developed world the countries that are signatories to
the Kyoto Protocol are opposed to its second commitment
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Cont.; Key political and legal Issues
Complexities;
• International Trade Competition between the developed and
developing countries: it may be necessary for parliament to call
for the separation of he WTO and the climate change debate.
The issue of DOHA round are surfacing in the climate change
debate; technology; and the transfer and intellectual property.
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South Africa’s Position
(i)An international Legal Instrument
To protect the weaker countries being muzzled –out with no
bargaining powers
(ii) National Mandate for our National Interest;
All countries are doing something and in South Africa we already have
legislation across the sectors that is meant to assist with the reduction
of emissions
We as a country are doing a lot on climate change in the context of
environmental management, we have a suite of legislation and policy
across the sectors, these would include the energy mix policy, the IRP,
the MPRDA, NEMA and the Integrated transport strategy, Science and
technology etc.
National position and mandate for COP 17
A balance between adaptation and mitigation and a balance between
climate change imperatives and development imperatives
(Iii) Consolidation of the African Agenda
It is also important that South Africa plays a significant role in pursuing
the continent’s common position
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Topical Issues
• Second commitment of the Kyoto Protocol will have to be balanced
with what comes out of the negotiations (Bali Action Plan 1b1
Mitigation Targets by the USA and 1b2 Mitigation actions by
developing countries)
• Adaptation at the centre of ensuring support for developing
countries
• Implementation/establishment of institutions on finances
technology etc.
• Voluntary payment system must be replaced by a sustainable
funding mechanism of additional money
• Establishment of adaptation committee
• Establishment of the Green Climate Fund
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Role of Parliament
Two Significant levels;
(a). Contribution at COP17:
• A debate about South Africa’s policy position on Climate Change
before the COP17 Conference
• Parliament should know key areas that have been identified by
Cabinet for COP17
• There must be consultation between Parliament and the country’s
the negotiation team
• Parliaments to be formally represented at COP17 and all structures
created within and during the conference( e.g. friends of the Chair,
this is important to ensure transparency
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Cont.; Role of Parliament
b). Implementation and Oversight beyond COP17
• Ensure that Parliament monitors the implementation of existing
policies
• Integration of Climate Change into Broader Parliamentary
Debates at least three time per annum: This must be
aligned with the Negotiations schedule to keep-up with
developments and dynamics.
• Capacity to manage disasters resulting from climate
change. Programmes for public education and awareness: Peoples
Assembly and Taking Parliament to the People
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Conclusion
Concerns/ Questions
South Africa is doing a lot and may be even way ahead of many countries (
sometimes being more like a developed country especially when we consider the
sum total of what will be achieved through all the programmes that we have
embarked on)
The question to respond to regarding our participation is,
1. Do we want to be a leader in the world in combating climate change or do we
want to lead the developing world?
2. What do we see as our priority poverty alleviation or combatting climate
change?
3. To what extent are we pushing the national interest and how do we assess that,
should this not be an area for the oversight role of parliament?
4. What is the socio-economic impact of climate change on our country, how do
we ensure that the country benefits from the climate change?
5. Are we driving the climate change debate internally or are we reacting to
external pressure?
6. What capacity do we need to respond and where are we lacking in that
capacity?
7. How do we ensure participation by all stakeholders?
8. How do we relate to the continent? E.g. The establishment of institutions.
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I Thank you
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