South African local governments consolidate their position towards COP 15 at national information and consultation session

4 August 2009, Johannesburg, South Africa

On 4 August 2009, ICLEI Africa presented the “Africa Local Government Climate Change Declaration” at the South African National Climate Change information and consultation session in Johannesburg. The national government had organised this event with the purpose of informing civil society, NGOs, the public and other government departments about the UNFCCC COP 15 and the “South African position” with regards to the key focal points of the international climate change negotiations.

The national session was aimed at providing stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss the South African priorities, key issues and to build a common understanding and approach towards Copenhagen. It also provided information and an update on the status of international climate change negotiations.

The information presented at the time alluded to a clear position with regards to the focal points of adaptation, mitigation, means of implementation and shared vision. In particular, the South African position at the time included that Adaptation is a major building block in the Bali Action Plan and should be a priority for Africa and South Africa, it must be treated with equal levels of attention in the future climate regime and that there is the need for “massively scaled-up, new, additional and predictable funding for implementation”.

In terms of mitigation, South Africa expects Annex 1 countries to commit to reductions of 25% to 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 and to adopt mitigation targets that will ensure that levels would have a “chance of keeping temperature increase below 2ºC above pre-industrial levels”.

South Africa also called for a massively up-scaled, stable and predictable means of implementation for developing countries, including technology, finance and capacity building, to support mitigation efforts of non-annex 1 countries. As a means of implementation, South Africa’s position is that institutional arrangements must facilitate access by developing countries to the “means of implementation” (including finance, technology and capacity building) in a coherent and enabling manner.

Lastly, the deal must have a shared vision that

(i) is based on sound science

(ii) strikes a balance between adaptation and mitigation

(iii) strikes a balance between climate and development imperatives, and

(iiii) addresses the means of implementation.

ICLEI Africa presented the African Local Government Position to participants at the consultation session following ICLEI Africa’s widely attended African Local Government Climate Roadmap Pre-Copenhagen Summit, held in Tshwane the week before the National Consultation Session (29-31 July 2009). The main outcome of the Summit, the “African Local Government Declaration”, which was disseminated at the consultation session, addresses statements, commitments and calls to the UNFCCC made by Local Governments from across Africa.

 

Statements to be used at COP 15 climate negotiations

Some of the initial Statements which will be used at the negotiations at COP15 are:

  • As a continent, Africa has to date contributed very little to the problem of human induced climate change, and is accountable for a small proportion of the consumption of the ‘carbon space’;
  • Science is increasingly showing that even aggressive mitigation measures are not going to eliminate the need for the world to adapt to climate change impacts and that the longer the delay in mitigating climate change, the greater will be the demand for adaptation;
  • As detailed in the IPCC 4th Assessment, the projected 2 degree Celsius rise in temperature may be damaging to the African continent, with scientists anticipating decrease in crop yields of 50% by 2020;
  • The African continent has the fastest growing urban population and it is the urban centres that are the site of substantial development pressure and are at the frontline of response to climate change;
  • Within the context of the declaration, which is currently being constructed, We have recognized and illustrated that:
  • African vulnerability is exacerbated by high levels of poverty and limited adaptive ability;
  • That vulnerability is differently experienced within regions, and between social groups, with marginalized groups (women, youth, informal sector) experiencing greater vulnerability;
  • Key local government competencies are important with regards to climate change response, including spatial planning;
  • Africa has substantial energy requirements for poverty alleviation and economic development;

Outcomes of the African Local Government Climate Roadmap Pre-Copenhagen Summit, Tshwane, 29-31 July 2009

As an outcome of the African Local Government Climate Roadmap Pre-Copenhagen Summit, held in Tshwane, South Africa, on 29-31 July 2009, African Cities are calling on the Parties and the Conference of the Parties to:

  • To recognise local government as key partners in implementing climate change action;
  • Build and develop a pro-poor framing of the global response to climate change;
  • Realise a visible commitment [substantial resources] towards adaptation commensurate with the anticipated impacts and associated costs;
  • Establish an adaptation framework that is flexible, accessible, supportive of long-term, sustainable development and responsive to the African local government reality, and its diverse regional characteristics.
  • Initiate a process of emissions targets for developing countries that are cautious, consciously developed, reflect local levels of development;
  • Support the empowerment and capacity development of African local government as the site of the major climate response implementation;
  • Recognize the value of eco systems services in climate stability and include actions to avoid degradation as key within the global mitigation framework.