Transcript WRC

National Climate Change Response
Green Paper – Comments by WRC
Chris Moseki,
Water Research Commission of SA
(WRC)
Parliament, Cape Town
3 March 2011
Overview of the presentation
(Areas that need to be addressed)
•
Introduction & Principles
Seawater intrusion, Ecosystem Approach Principle
•
National Climate Change Response Strategy
Mainstreaming climate change into existing Policies
•
Key adaptation sectors – Water & Agriculture
Water quality, drinking water & mine water reuse
Efficient water use in agriculture
•
Key mitigation sector - Transport
Improved confidence & efficiency in public transport
•
Biodiversity, human settlements & resources
Impacts on biodiversity & human settlements; skills development
•
Concluding Remarks
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Introduction

This section entails the rationale and
purpose of the Green Paper on
response to climate change impacts
 Status of climate (e.g. SA is a water
stressed country)
 Government to create enabling
environment for tackling the impacts
RSA is 30th driest country in the World;
Highly variable climate & fossil fuel
dependent vulnerable economy;
 Potential sea level rise resulting in
potential impacts on infrastructure
saline intrusion of coastal aquifers
thus impacting on water quality, and
flooding of low lying settlements (the
vulnerable poor could be hardest hit)
also need to be considered
Climate observation and the planned
stabilization of GHG emissions; the
need to adapt to climate effects
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The objective of the response …
 Giving effect to the Constitutional
provisions
regarding the right to a safe environment and
the future generation’s right by
Ensuring fair attribution towards GHG stabilisation
Interventions or adaptation action to address
climate change impacts
is reasonable
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Principles
All principles mentioned (e.g. precautionary,
people-centred, polluter pay, are acceptable)
However, for the country such as RSA with
fragile ecosystem goods & services that
support communities’ livelihoods – the
Ecosystem Approach Principle is also
important because therein:
other human-induced impacts such as pollution are
also considered in decision making processes
ensures protection of ecosystem goods & services
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Climate Change Response Strategy
Each strategy mentioned (e.g. balanced
approach to mitigation and adaptation
responses such as resource allocation) is fine
Emphasis on mainstreaming of climate change
responses into policy formulation and practice
is important
Taking climate issues into account when
implementing Government Policies is a challenge
yet crucial (e.g. modifying international water
sharing agreements, if climate projections indicate
that less water will be available in future)
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Key adaptation sector - Water
Additional item on water quality is suggested:
Rising temperatures due to climate change could
cause increased evaporation rate thus leading to
increased salt concentration in water = water
quality deterioration
High temperatures in nutrient rich waters
promotes eutrophication
Research & development coupled with
monitoring at various levels should form part
of the solution package for effective results
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Water – the adaptation sector (2)
Drinking water (potable):
Both quantity and quality are important:
it is now known that emerging pathogens are resistant to
chlorine (including viruses, parasites & bacteria that cause
hepatitis or gastroenteritis, cryptosporidium, etc)
Results of research studies (WRC Reports 584/1/96; 231/1/93, etc)
Impacts of sea water desalination on marine ecology
& the technology as just one option
effluent of concentrated brine could harm marine ecology
E.g. Fishing Palestinian community’s livelihoods in Gaza is
threatened by return waste (concentrated brine) from
Mediterranean desalination plants
Desalination guides (e.g. WRC reports TT 296/06, 1326/1/04, etc)
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Water – the adaptation sector (3)
Drinking water (potable):
Water-energy nexus:
Opportunities in increasing efficiency in energy use and use
of renewable energy (solar, wind, etc) + nanotechnology
Results of research studies (WRC Reports 347/2/96; KV 195/07, etc)
Increased average temperature could impact on
pathogens
Enforce treatment of effluent to decrease potential impact
Pneumonia
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Water – the adaptation sector (3)
Mine water (reuse):
Efficiency in water use including recycling and reuse:
Treated mine water is also a resource to augment supply
Regulatory framework to enable treatment and reuse
Results of research studies (WRC Reports 1298/1/04, 1347/1/05)
Water is pumped from mine below (off-peak) to
storage above, then reversed for electricity generation
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Agriculture – adaptation/mitigation
Increased efficiency in agricultural water use is
recommended for this major water user sector
Stating the need for efficiency has to be explicit here
Several reports (WRC TT466/10, TT465/10, 1189/1/05, etc)
Drip irrigation
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Greenhouse
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Key Mitigation Sector – Transport
Improve conditions under which public transport is
operated – preferred mode of transport by commuters
e.g. efficiency, safety, & compliance to road regulations
If more people use public transport that could lead to less
carbon emission, reduced costs & less congestion on roads
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Aquatic to terrestrial biodiversity
Freshwater ecosystem is discussed here:
Increased temperature (and resulting reduced water flow
and chemistry) impacts on biodiversity (i.e. Loss of
aquatic biodiversity among others)
Also promote research in aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystem adaptation
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Human Society, Livelihoods and services
Settlements, Infrastructure & Built Environment – Urban:
Giving effect to cooperative governance (coordination) &
compliance to regulations on land management are key
Otherwise the vulnerable poor could be negatively impacted
Zoning to prevent settlements in flood prone areas is crucial
Settlements, Infrastructure & Built Environment – Coastal:
Unsustainable use of coastal groundwater could trigger
sea water intrusion impacting on water quality
Sustainable management and use (balance use & protection)
Zoning may be part of the solution is well
FLOODING
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Inputs and Resources Mobilization
Human Resource
Though climate science research in South Africa is
World class, number of researchers is low & declining
Government to take the lead in provision of adequate
and predictable resources for skills development
Technological Resources
Mainstreaming climate change into policy formulation
and practice is necessary
Therefore research results and products have to be
taken up to support (or inform) implementation
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Concluding remarks
Sector issues including water have potential to be
adequately be addressed in the Green Paper
Water needs a balance between mitigation & adaptation
Climate change response strategy will have details
Each sector including water should have a strategy
Water quality and efficient water use are crucial
Ensuring compliance to regulations could save lives
Climate science skills are necessary for good research
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THANK YOU
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