Outcomes of UN Climate Change report a wake-up call for South Africa

10 August 2021

The outcomes of the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report entitled “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis” should be a wake-up call for South Africa. The report is a stark warning to the global community and highlights the bleak future we face if warnings are not heeded and serious and immediate action taken.

South Africa is currently the world’s 12th largest emitter of greenhouse gases and the most significant emitter remains the disaster-ridden Eskom. South Africa already has clearly articulated targets to ensure that we meet our net-zero carbon commitments by 2050. Government cannot continue to pay lip-service to these commitments and must show that it is serious about carbon reduction, starting with Eskom. The report is emphatic and unequivocal about the link between man-made emissions and climate change. The Covid-19 pandemic has emphasised the need for us to listen to global experts and trust the science.

Frighteningly, the UN report reveals that even with the envisaged 1.5°C goals set out by the 2015 Paris Agreement our sea levels will continue to rise. Any rise in sea levels will have serious global consequences for South Africa’s 2800 kilometres of coastline. Tourism and marine industries, along with surrounding coastal communities will have to make plans to adapt as sea levels rise.

The DA will continue to push for greater diversification of our energy mix with a key focus on the promotion of renewable sources. South Africa’s solar potential is one of the highest in the world and more must be done to roll out new and ambitious solar projects across the country to decrease our reliance on Eskom and other carbon-intensive energy sources. In this regard we would urge the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, to continue to push for an increased focus on climate finance for South Africa and other developing countries.

The 26th Congress of the Parties (COP26) will be held in Glasgow later this year and will provide an opportunity for the Minister to argue for increased global contributions and to re-emphasise South Africa’s commitment towards global climate goals. It is essential that the developed world help to play their part by assisting to cross-subsidise the developing world. We cannot be faced with a scenario where steps to decarbonise and diversify are hindered by financial constraints. The potential for job creation from renewable energy has been recognised by the Presidential Climate Change Commission and the sooner we roll new projects out the more jobs can be created for South Africans.

The DA-led City of Cape Town is a member of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and is one of just 97 world cities taking bold action to fight climate change, a distinction we are very proud of. The City of Cape Town has released an ambitious Climate Change Strategy document in May which is easily the most comprehensive of its kind of any city in the Southern Hemisphere. The leadership and innovation shown by the DA-led City of Cape Town during the 2018 drought crisis remains in stark contrast to many ANC-led municipalities across the country where the threat of running out of water is an ongoing concern.

The DA thanks the many experts who contributed to this landmark report and most notably those from our own local scientific community. It is now up to those in government to take the bold steps required to ensure the survival of our planet

Issued by Dave Bryant, DA Shadow Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, 10 August 2021