Climate Change in the context of Sustainable Development

Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

Provincial Government of the Western CapeRepublic of South Africa

Dipolelo Elford

Western Cape Context

• 5.3 Million citizens, 90% live in cities and towns• Growing economy and lower unemployment rate than

national average• Home to two Biodiversity Hotspots – Cape Floristic

Region and Succulent Karoo• Western Cape is an important tourist destination. In

2002/03 foreign direct investment from tourism = >R550 million

• Bordered by >1000km of coastline• Energy security – key economic concern

Sustainable Development Imperative

• Vision - A sustainable home for all – now and forever

• Sustainable Development Declaration • Sustainable Development Implementation Plan

- Will be achieved through implementing integrated governance systems that promote economic growth in a manner that contributes to greater social equity and that maintains the ongoing capacity of the natural environment to provide the ecological services upon which socio-economic development depends

Sustainable Development in the Province

• Challenge: Balancing economic growth and environmental integrity

• Western Cape Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) recognises that growth must take place within a sustainable development framework

• The SDIP is one of several provincial strategies and plans that seeks to give expression to the Province’s vision of shared growth and integrated development.

Sustainable Development Challenges

• Economic Development• Human Settlements • Energy and Climate Change • Water and Waste • Biodiversity and Natural Resource

Management • Governance

6 Thematic Areas of SDIP

• Biodiversity and Natural Resources

• Energy and Climate Change

• Sustainable Human Settlements

• Sustainable Transport

• Waste Management

• Water Use and Management

Sustaible Development Strategic context

International Obligations

WSSD (JPoI, GD)

Int. Conventions& Protocols

Agenda 21

National Strategic Obj’s

Social Economic

Environmental

W.Cape’s Strategic Obj’s

iKapa Elihlumayo

Sustainable Development Strategic Context

• 1992: UN Conference on Environment and Development • 2002: World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) • 2002 Gauteng Declaration on the Role of Regional

Governments in Sustainable Development• Western Cape Growth and Development Framework• iKapa elihlumayo Strategies• Integrated Development Planning• 2007: Western Cape Sustainable Development

Implementation Plan• 2007: Western Cape Climate Change Response strategy and

Action Plan

Transport

SIP

Key Growth Drivers for the

Province

Economic Development

MEDS

Environmental

& Planning

Urban/Spatial development

PSDF

Investment

PGDS

Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development

PROVINCIAL CONTEXT

CapeTown

Mountains

Little Karoo

Great Karoo

Namaqualand

Coastal plain

Mountains

Moist

DryMoist

plain

Coastal

Garden Route

The Western Cape Province

Mountains

NOT ALL DISTRICTS WILL BE AFFECTED THE SAME BY CLIMATE CHANGE

Key Predictions about Climate Change in the Western Cape

• Changes are detectable and attributable• Warmer temperatures more so in the interior.• Drier conditions in the shoulder seasons, especially away

from mountains • weaker cold fronts, (longer burn season).• Increased humidity and greater persistence of stronger

southerly winds.• increased rainfall intensity and extreme events• Possible increases in inter-annual variability

Climate Change threats to Sustainable Development in the Province

• The 2005 - Climate Change Status Quo and vulnerability assessment Report which shows that climate change will have double the global average impact in the Western Cape.

• Hotter and drier weather will lead to:

- More fires, floods and drought

- Changes and drop in agricultural production

- Less water

- Increased vulnerability of the poor

The Western Cape Climate Change Response Strategy and Action Plan

Contents

2. Three Adaptation Programmes:

• Water Supply and Infrastructure Management;• Climate Change Research and Monitoring;• Linking livelihoods, land stewardship and economic

growth.

4. One Mitigation Programme:

• Reducing our carbon footprint and maximising energy efficiency opportunities

1. The Provincial Action Plan - departmental projects, timeframes, budgets

Programme 1: Integrated Water supply and Infrastructure

Integrated water programme

Establish and implement the ecological reserve- incrementally

Conserve wetlands estuaries and rivers

Research areas: demand, cost benefit of irrigation, irrigation efficiency and profitability

Increase water efficiency through pricing strategies

Establish uninterrupted water conservancy targets

Systems maintenance and repairs

Establish science / environmental / government dialogue

Programme custodian: DWAF

Strengthen provincial capacity against 1:100 year drought

Programme 2: Climate change research and monitoring

Research, monitoring and validation

Extend weather stations network

Increase Air Quality stations; integrate other data - e.g. traffic

Research pest sensitivity to climate change

Research irrigation efficiency

Foster science / environmental / government dialogue

Programme custodian: PCCC / DEA&DP

Programme 3: Establish clear linkages between land stewardship, biodiversity, livelihoods and the economy

Linking land stewardship, livelihoods and economic growth

Source: OneWorld Sustainable Investment

Land stewardship - Effective land usage and land care - Protect, maintain and enhance

natural resources

Livelihoods - Strengthening vulnerable

communities - Conserving and developing resources - Maintaining diversity in livelihoods

Sustainable Economic Growth and Development

Action - Map the I in 50 year floodline – inform development - Integrate CC risks into

development planning and approva l processes

- Wetland conservation and fragile environment protection programme - Integrated Invasive Alien Species Programme - Increase fire risk ratings

Action - Develop SE scenarios - Impacts of CC & fisheries

on livelihoods - Touris m impacts

- Climate change, agriculture and rural livelihoods

Security through diversity

Programme 4: Reducing our carbon footprint and maximising energy efficiency opportunities

Mitigation programmes

Waste management, energy conversion and recycling initiatives

Air quality monitoring

Household fuel replacement

Transport fuel replacement & integrated housing and transport planning - town planning (IDPs)

Develop provincial industry and innovations - electric car, SWH installation capacity; Solar panels manufacturing

Energy efficiency - drive targets, incentivise through pricing strategies

Develop the provincial renewable resources

Programme custodians: DEA&DP; DME; CTC; DoT; Housing

Integrate CC into building standards, EE houses

Environmental Authorisations

• Reducing the cumulative impacts on water sources;• Water and energy efficiency measures;• Transport focus on public transport measures;• Development setbacks in coastal zones and flood prone

areas;• Avoiding damage to wetlands, aquatic systems, forests,

other fragile environments and biodiversity hotspots and corridors;

• Avoiding development of high potential agricultural land;• Avoiding impacts and promoting environmental rights of

socio-economically disadvantaged communities

Conclusion

• Climate change poses a particular challenge over and above the already existing challenge of achieving sustainable development

• Key imperative is to adapt our provincial development initiatives and activities to minimise the impact of adverse climate trends on our citizen’s socio-economic development and on natural resource conservation

• Need to limit green house gas emissions and improve energy security

• Need to act sooner rather than later

Thank You