Transcript sacc submission on national climate response green paper

SUMMARY ON SACC SUBMISSION
NATIONAL CLIMATE RESPONSE GREEN
PAPER
CLIMATE JUSTICE DEMANDS
CHURCHES’ SOLIDARITY WITH THE
VULNERABLE
CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW
In the face of unresolved commitment to Kyoto Protocols – and possible trade-off
that wealthier nation may want to foist on South Africa – we need to:
Deliver on emission reduction commitments and
•Take a stand as a 21st Century Ethical Leader for Climate Justice as a global
phenomenon caused undisputedly by human action that impacts
disproportionately on the poorest and most vulnerable people and the biosphere.
•For the Churches in particular and Faith Communities in general, Climate
Change is the result of social, moral and spiritual crisis and, therefore, a
Justice issue. .
•Let us prepare to host the 17th Conference of Parties (COP 17) in Solidarity and
Urgency with the poorest and most vulnerable in our nation and world.
•The 2⁰C target is a weak compromise. Embarrass the wealthier nations.
•Be principled and aim for a goal limiting further warming by 1,5⁰C by 2050.
The SACC welcomes the Green paper Climate Change Response Strategy
but rejects the attempt to accommodate developed countries’ and our own
“energy intensive” economy in a strategic compromise “to recognize and
address this and also create mechanisms that will give high carbon sectors
the support and time to move to lower carbon forms of
production.” (p.7).
The SACC says SA should stand unequivocally and in solidarity with the
poorest and developing countries that are bearing the brunt of developed
countries historical actions that have and continue to harm the world.
The SACC says that South Africa is in a favourable position to reject all
attempts at carbon trading and carbon footprint trading and set global
Accountability on those historically responsible for the diseased global
environment.
MITIGATION means interventions to reduce Green House Gases and/or
enhance Carbon sinks.
ADAPTATION means responses that increase the ability of human and
ecological subsystems to manage or cope with climate change.
Climate Justice means tackling both mitigation and adaptation effectively and
equitably.
•WATER, AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN HEALTH ADAPTATION RESPONSES
The SACC believes that all adaptation strategies should be viewed as urgent
in the short, medium and long term. While we support DWEA’s imperative
“to ensure we can sustain … affordable water to all.” (5.1.1) we call on DWEA to ensure
that all levels of government will act cooperatively to ensure water resources and local
and regional level (5.1.2) and enforce the polluter pays principle and ensure that water
Sources are fit for drinking (5.1.11) (without compromise on solvents)
•On Agriculture, the SACC commends to DWEA the report and work by
UNFCC establishment Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological
Advice (SBSTA) Five Year Programme of Work on Impacts, Vulnerability and
Adaptation to Climate Change as it progresses in research, impacts and
development of alternate strategies for agricultural adaptation (5.2.1-5.2.5)
•On Human Health, the SACC affirms the approaches in 5.3.1-5.3.8 as dealing
with Human Health at the heart of climate justice. The SACC advises that in
conjunction with the Dept. of Health, that further adaptation strategies be
integrated into and rolled out in conjunction with the proposed National Health
Insurance, an equitable and just way of dealing with the nation’s burden of
disease. The Polluter Pays Principle could form a source of income for the plan.
•Climate Justice and Mitigation Sectors
Energy – The SACC affirms its approach in the DIRP Energy (Electricity)
submissions that energy justice is about finding rapid alternatives to its “Cheap
but dirty” source of energy. From environmental, social, health and economic
perspectives, the SACC urges government to immediately explore the path of
renewable energy. The Churches and other Faith Communities have positive
awareness roles to play in promoting lessons on energy efficiency and
renewable energy as mitigation for climate justice. Note: The Churches
understand that the scientific evidence does not uphold nuclear energy as either
a renewable and/or sustainable energy source.
Business and Commerce - How ready are the sectors to adapt to the National
Climate Change Response? From our AlterNative Mining Indaba with NGO’s
and communities around Africa affected by Mining Corporations the Churches
are demanding that extractive mining corporations comply with:
•Free, Prior and Informed Consent
•Genuine participation of Traditional leaders with communities as accountable
servants of communities
•Environmental and Social Impact Assessments to be conducted by experts
•independent of government and private sector interests
•Greater transparency from these companies to declare revenues, taxes, levies
•and royalties according to the Lusaka Declaration on Mining Taxation.
•Hold mining companies and their shareholders accountable under the Polluter Pays
Principle for any rehabilitation and/or community restoration required by mining and its
resultant degradation
CLIMATE JUSTICE AND CHURCHES
SOLIDARITY
CONCLUSION
Government is to be commended for defining “climate change as all of our
business” as its strategy as a “partnership with the South African people ... to
empower people and give them understanding, choice and control over climate
related decisions that affect their daily lives and work.” (p. 30). We point out
that South Africa already possesses a sophisticated democracy with checks and
balances including constitutionally mandated processes of consultation and
participatory decision making.
We look forward to the proposals in the White Paper but continue to seek
clarity on the kind of “partnership” that would define government’s intent on
making climate change “the business of all”. A FURTHER role for the Churches –
perhaps from the SACC, COSATU and SANGOCO alliance within the People’s
Budget Campaign. Also, a reminder that monitoring and evaluation of impacts
on communities will be more effective as a partnership. The Churches can be
good sources of the kind of partnership that yield results for transformation.