South African Climate Action Network

We, the South African Climate Action Network, applaud government’s commitment to develop national policy that is informed by and responsive to the latest science and welcome this Summit, the objectives of which include:

• The roles and responsibilities of sectoral departments in respect to the development of the sectoral policy components are agreed;

• All policy development timelines and milestones are agreed;

• All basic policy directions are agreed.

We must ensure that vulnerable people and fragile ecosystems are protected from the impacts of climate change and not burdened with the costs of climate change or response measures.

We call on the government of South Africa to bring about the following, while adhering to the overarching principles of empowering the poor and reducing inequality:

1.       Climate policy and development planning to be informed by full-cost accounting;

2.       Establishing a national Adaptation Fund, drawing on national as well as international resources, to support community-based initiatives and develop local capacity and indigenous models of adaptation;

3.       Introduction of a revenue-neutral, escalating carbon tax, with revenues directed to affordable access to sustainable energy services, containing food price escalation and delivering affordable public transport;

4.       Climate and energy policy, industrial strategy and development planning should aim for emissions to peak / stabilise in 2015, at no more than 100Mt above 2000 levels, followed by steep decline after no more than a decade; more detailed targets will be needed in future, informed by emerging science.

5.       Adoption of medium term targets for renewable energy including:

a.       15% electricity from renewable resources by 2020

_b.         25 million m² solar water heating by 2020, with financing of solar water heating as a ‘virtual power plant’ of about 5000 MW capacity;

6.       Rapid, wide-scale implementation of the Working for Energy programme, particularly for local utilisation of renewable resources (especially sustainable biomass), creating more than 100 000 jobs through a Public Works approach to renewable energy and efficiency;

7.       Urgent action for energy efficiency and conservation, with mandatory measures including standards for buildings, appliances and processes, to realise of the full efficiency potentials identified in the National Energy Efficiency Strategy (2005) as soon as possible and no later than 2020;

8.       No new coal-to liquids plant and no further coal-fired power stations post-Medupi, unless or until safe and secure capacity for carbon capture and storage has been established;

9.       Accelerate transport modal shift, particularly through affordable and safe public transport and moving freight transport from road to rail - 40% road freight to be transported by rail by 2020;

10.   Urgently pursue electrification of mobility and other options to transition away from liquid hydrocarbons;

11.   Concentrating Solar (Thermal) Power (CSP) initiatives to be made an autonomous national flagship project, aiming to develop 10 GW as an initial phase, as soon as possible.

12.   Terminate all forms of subsidy to fossil fuel and nuclear industries.

13.   Develop regulatory policy to address ‘bunker fuel’ emissions – from aviation and maritime fuel use - consistent with developing international measures under the UNFCCC;

14.   More efficient water use and water demand management (not through privatisation or compromising rights to water of the poor). Linked to this, there needs to be a careful re-assessment of water financing, allocation and tariffs. Responses to climate change should not put more pressure on water resources and services.

15.   The ecological and human needs reserve must be defined and protected in all catchments.

16.   Ensure that rural communities are provided with the necessary support to enable them to understand the likely impacts of climate change, and to adapt their livelihood strategies and farming practices in ways that will increase their resilience and, as far as possible, maintain the productivity of their farming systems.

17.   In recognition of the fact that poor women and youth have specific needs and will be impacted upon differently by climate change, gender and youth specific programmes and strategies should be developed within all line government departments in their climate change response strategy

18.   Conservation of healthy ecosystems and restoration of all South African ecosystems, including catchments, river corridors, grasslands, savannahs, and coastal systems, which will:

·         Enhance carbon sequestration with the use of indigenous vegetation (particularly those with lower water requirements and including Spekboom) and prevent loss of soil-based carbon; and

·         Reduce risk of water shortages, flood events, soil erosion, veld degradation, and infrastructure damage, and provide security for sustainable food production, alternative health options, and a safety net for communities dependent on natural resources for their subsistence;

·         provide adaptation resilience to climate change and protect biodiversity.

19.   The Department of Health to specify how it intends to respond to increased stresses on health;

20.   Greater efforts to reduce energy poverty through escalating tariffs that are pro poor, provision of decentralised local renewable energy services and increased allocation for rural energisation schemes;

21.   Climate change response initiatives, including research and development, to prioritise technology and infrastructure development that will reduce inequality, including in access to ecosystem services;

22.   Evaluation of ecosystem services and the full economic value they provide, to determine where development is not appropriate in light of the high value these systems provide there.

23.   Ensure resources are provided for creative and innovative communication and capacity building, as part of a broader commitment to democracy and participatory learning around issues of climate change. This must focus on positive messages of hope that will motivate and inspire all stakeholders.

A new direction for industrial development focusing on creating green jobs – e.g. installation and maintenance of solar water heater roll-out and the motor industry to focus on electric cars and associated infrastructure – and ending the policy of offering of heavily subsidized, “cheap” electricity.