ANC+52nd+National+Conference+2007,+Resolution+on+Climate+Change

ANC 52ND NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2007 - RESOLUTIONS

 * [|Click here to view the PDF Format]**


 * CONTENTS**
 * 1) Organisational Renewal
 * 2) Social Transformation
 * 3) Economic Transformation
 * 4) **Climate Change**
 * 5) Rural Development, Land Reform and Agrarian Change
 * 6) Transformation of State and Governance
 * 7) Peace and Stability
 * 8) International Relations
 * 9) Communications and the Battle of Ideas

=**CLIMATE CHANGE**=


 * NOTING THAT:**
 * 1) The ANC's position on environmental issues has been consistent and is reflected in the RDP document. It is this vision that has informed the various policies, programmes and actions of government since 1994.
 * 2) During the apartheid period the vast majority of our people bore the brunt of poor sanitation, were located in areas where the most polluting industries existed, and denied the basic right to defend themselves against harmful activities. The ANC's vision has therefore sought to embrace a transformative environmentalism based upon the idea of sustainable development, which is built upon the inter-connection of environmental, social and economic justice.
 * 3) Acting together with other progressive forces, the ANC ensured that environmental rights were firmly entrenched in our Constitution so that both individuals and communities are able to defend their right to a safe and sound environment. This Constitutional base has provided the framework and orientation for a variety of laws. Environmental justice is firmly entrenched as an integral part of the National Democratic Revolution.
 * 4) The ANC has played a leading role in shaping global debates on environmental justice, including through our participation in the Rio Earth Summit, followed by South Africa's hosting of the World Summit for Sustainable Development in 2002. At these historic forums the ANC has consistently championed a progressive response to the environmental dimensions of development challenges facing Africa and the countries of the South.
 * 5) In the light all this, it is critical that the ANC continues to provide leadership on environmental issues. This includes working with progressive forces in South Africa and throughout the world to ensure that environmental issues continue to receive the prominence they deserve.
 * AND BELIEVING THAT:**
 * 1) Our vision of the future includes a sustainable economy where all South Africans, including present and future generations realise their right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being.
 * 2) Since the industrial revolution average global temperatures have risen significantly, and are continuing to rise. The cause is the increased quantities of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere generated by human activities that include burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, industrialisation, inefficient road transportation and intensive methods of agricultural production. We must take up the challenge of acknowledging this and act together to save tomorrow by what we do today.
 * 3) There is now general agreement that the world is rapidly moving towards a point where rising temperatures will result in dramatic and irreversible climate related impacts that will have dramatic effects on human society and on our natural environment. The polar ice caps are melting; changes are taking place in sea currents and sea levels. The hottest temperatures in recorded history have been measured in the last decade, as have the most intense storms, the most destructive floods and the longest lasting droughts.
 * 4) These unusual and unpredictable weather events jeopardise human settlements, livelihoods and infrastructure particularly in low-lying coastal areas; they are the beginning of changes in climatic patterns that will result in a shift in rainfall quantities and distribution affecting flora and fauna and fundamentally changing current commercial as well as age-old patterns of agricultural production and hence of livelihoods.
 * 5) Poor communities will bear the brunt of the costs resulting from climate change in direct inverse to their contribution to the phenomenon of global warming. Scientific research predicts that in all of this the African continent is likely to be one of the most seriously affected parts of the world. Africa continues to face the challenge of high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment, low levels of infrastructural development and high reliance on primary commodities and agriculture. Many African regions and countries will, therefore, lack the capacity to generate effective adaptive responses to changes that climate change will bring.
 * 6) In South Africa itself the impacts of climate change are predicted to include a reduction in rainfall and increase in droughts in the western side of the country. This will exacerbate water scarcity and have potentially devastating effects on agricultural production as well as on the survival of the Cape Floral Kingdom and our country's priceless biodiversity. Climate change can impact on our tourism industry, and many new industries developing around the use of natural products - affecting as a result jobs, and livelihood opportunities for the poor.
 * 7) Global warming is also likely to result in wetter and hotter temperatures in the eastern side of the country resulting in the spread of diseases such as malaria to large populations that are presently unaffected by it. In addition, rises in sea levels and the increasing frequency of destructive weather events will threaten our coastal cities. Consequently, loss of incomes, jobs and investment will undermine existing investments and initiatives.
 * 8) There is also already evidence that climate change, which is leading to the warming of temperatures in the oceans, is affecting the flow and temperature gradient of the Benguela current, which has been responsible for the nourishment of various types of fish crucial to our fishing industry on the Atlantic sea-board. Changes in temperature are already beginning to affect the availability of traditional fish stock, such as certain types of pelagic fish and crayfish.
 * 9) The bulk of the world's greenhouse gas emissions are generated by the developed world. However, as the pace of development increases, developing countries including China, India and ourselves are contributing an increasing amount to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
 * 10) South Africa is responsible for about 1% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. This is a relatively small proportion, but it means that we are the world's 14th largest producer of greenhouse gases and along with India and China we are seen as one of the "large" developing country emitters. The reason for this is our country's heavy reliance on coal as the main source of our energy. This places an obligation on South Africa, in terms of fulfilling our international responsibilities, to demonstrate our seriousness and commitment to greenhouse gas reduction.
 * 11) South Africa is a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Although South Africa does not have targets for reducing its share of greenhouse gases, as is the case for developed economies, we do have responsibilities under the Convention and Protocol. For a developing economy South Africa's share of carbon dioxide emissions is not insignificant.
 * 12) The South African economy is growing rapidly. The economy is likely to reach 6% growth. In order to ensure continued growth, the supply of power will have to be doubled in the next 15 to 25 years. Coal generated power will result in increased carbon dioxide emissions.
 * 13) A growing economy also means that as people become more affluent private transport will increase. We are already seeing increased number of cars on our roads, and the consequences in terms of traffic congestion and pollution are all too evident.
 * 14) South Africa has huge untapped potential for renewable energy. A shift towards renewable energy will reduce our emissions, and hold substantial sustainable development benefits, including the development of sustainable livelihoods and small businesses and job creation opportunities.
 * THEREFORE RESOLVES TO:**
 * 1) Recognise that climate change is a new threat on a global scale and poses an enormous burden upon South Africans and Africans as a whole because we are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The risks to the poor are the greatest.
 * 2) Recognise that the evidence for climate change is indisputable and that immediate action by all governments and the public as a whole is needed.
 * 3) Set a target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as part of our responsibility to protect the environment and promote sustainable development, and to participate in sharing the burden with the global community under a common framework of action.
 * 4) Support the meeting of the target through:
 * 5) a) energy efficiency improvements in industry, in households and by setting vehicle fuel efficiency standards;
 * 6) b) diversifying energy sources away from coal, including through nuclear energy and renewables - especially solar power;
 * 7) c) putting a price on the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases;
 * 8) d) allocating significant additional resources for the research and development of innovative clean and low-carbon technologies, including by retrofitting existing technologies;
 * 9) e) further exploration and development of carbon capture and storage methods;
 * 10) f) the introduction of a tariff system that promotes the efficient use of electricity; and,
 * 11) g) the promotion of affordable public transport, the expansion of rail logistics and the reversal of the apartheid spatial legacy.
 * 12) Escalate our national efforts towards the realisation of a greater contribution of renewable energy sources, including solar and wind power, as part of an ambitious renewable energy target. The hydroelectric potential of the SADC region should be included in our plans.
 * 13) Further ensure that our economy benefits from the global growth potential of the renewable energy sector, including through the provision of incentives for investment in renewable energy infrastructure as well as human resources to ensure that institutions and companies are ready to take full advantage of renewable energy opportunities. Moreover to promote the realignment of institutional mechanisms which will fast-track the utilisation of renewable energy to mitigate the climate change effects, including the implementation of a feed-in tariff.
 * 14) Move to an energy efficient economy should take due regard of the imperative to create jobs. Consideration should be given to launch a green jobs programme.
 * 15) Mobilise the public, business and other players to act responsibly and save energy both as collectives and in their individual capacity, including through a mandatory national energy efficiency programme. Industrial and commercial buildings have particular potential for efficiency improvements. The government, as a huge consumer of electricity, has a special responsibility in this regard. Government buildings and installations must be given mandatory targets to become energy efficient.
 * 16) Encourage further and increased efforts to raise public awareness about energy saving. Energy saved reduces both greenhouse gases and the need to build new power plants.
 * 17) Escalate our efforts to encourage efficiency in the consumption of energy, including through the integration of energy-saving technologies into our social programmes and by leading campaigns to encourage environmental and energy-conscious consumer behaviour.
 * 18) Further integrate climate change considerations with sustainable development strategies, the science and technology agenda, integrated energy planning, transport policy and the evolving industrial policy. In this context to maximise the integration of a full cost accounted economy in which the life cycle of products is internalised and the goal of zero waste production is pursued.
 * 19) Continue pro-actively building our capacity, and develop a comprehensive strategy, to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change, including in the roll-out of basic services, infrastructure planning, agriculture, biodiversity, water resource management and in the health sector.
 * 20) Introduce environmental studies and the appreciation of nature in the school curriculum, and,
 * 21) Build partnerships between state institutions, business, trade unions, civil society and communities to address these challenges together.

1890 words