National Climate Change Response Green Paper – Comments by WRC

Chris Moseki, Water Research Commission of SA(WRC)Parliament, Cape Town3 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 & AgricultureWater quality, drinking water & mine water reuse Efficient water use in agriculture

• Key mitigation sector - TransportImproved confidence & efficiency in public transport

• Biodiversity, human settlements & resourcesImpacts on biodiversity & human settlements; skills development

• Concluding RemarksClimate Change Green Paper_ 2011_Chris 2

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

Potential sea level rise resulting in 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

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RSA is 30th driest country in the World;Highly variable climate & fossil fuel dependent vulnerable economy; potential impacts on infrastructure

Climate observation and the planned stabilization of GHG emissions; theneed to adapt to climate effects

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 processesensures 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 fineEmphasis 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 deteriorationHigh 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)Climate Change Green Paper_ 2011_Chris 8

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

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Pneumonia

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 supplyRegulatory 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 hereSeveral reports (WRC TT466/10, TT465/10, 1189/1/05, etc)

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Drip irrigation Greenhouse

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 regulationsIf 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 impactedZoning 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

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FLOODING

Inputs and Resources Mobilization

Human ResourceThough 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 ResourcesMainstreaming climate change into policy formulation and practice is necessaryTherefore research results and products have to be taken up to support (or inform) implementation

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Concluding remarks

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THANK YOU

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