The honourable minister of water and environmental affairs, BP Sonjica, gave her state of the nation address yesterday. Some highlights from her speech were as follows:
- Clarification of the climate change targets. A 34% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to Business As Usual by 2020, and 42% by 2025 is proposed, but is conditional on a binding international treaty and means of implementation i.e. give us money and we will reduce emissions.
- A rise in carbon emissions in developing countries in the short term is allowed, thus we can build more coal power stations.
- To show a commitment to carbon reductions, a 100MW CSP plant and 1 million SWH will be rolled out in the short term, with “support” for wind projects.
What this means is that until the large emitters come to the table with reductions and money, South Africa will continue on a business-as-usual path. This is so short sighted. Building new coal commits us to high carbon emissions for a further 30 years or more. The commitment to low-carbon at a national level is thus far is nothing more than tokenism.
It is still up to local communities and cities to drive the change needed.
Frank
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