Remarks by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment her Excellency Barbara Creecy during the opening of the 13th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, Germany
Excellencies,
A special word of thanks to thank Chancellor Scholz and the government of Germany for organizing this important.
Congratulations to the Arab Republic of Egypt as the incoming Presidency of COP27. We look forward to the African COP.
Excellencies,
South Africa is further accelerating its climate actions, in the context of just transitions and sustainable development. Since COP 26, we have finalised our Just Transitions Framework, which will form the basis for our long-term climate action.
To this end, we have set up a Task Team to develop an investment plan for the Just Energy Transition Partnership or “JETP” announced in Glasgow, with our Partner countries – Germany, France, the UK, the US and the EU.
The Climate Bill which is currently before Parliament, lays the regulatory framework for the whole of government, business, organised labour and civil society to implement our country’s climate commitments.
However, we are very concerned at the lack of progress in the multilateral negotiations under the UNFCCC on key areas since COP 26. The discussions on loss and damage, finance, adaptation, and the just transition remain trapped in process-related discussions.
Last year in Glasgow some developing countries were vilified for stressing their national circumstances in relation to some of the desired outcomes in the Glasgow Climate Pact.
Yet just over six months after Glasgow we’re witnessing many developed countries reverting back to coal in response to their negative national circumstances.
We cannot have backtracking by developed country Parties. Developed countries must continue taking the lead with ambitious action. The ultimate measure of climate leadership is not what countries do in times of comfort and convenience, but what they do in times of challenge and controversy.
Climate change is currently costing African countries between three and five percent of their GDPs. Regionally, Africa is experiencing extreme climate impacts which the Continent had very little role in causing.
The Sixth IPCCC report confirms that despite having seventeen percent of the world’s population, Africa is only responsible for three percent of emissions.
The African continent supports ambitious realism which recognises our special circumstances and our need to negotiate pathways that meet both the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations
The adaptation agenda truly needs a “Boost” at COP27. A "Boost" that will promote its global visibility, balance and scale-up. For Africa, the Global Goal on Adaptation must increase the resilience of our population to the adverse impacts of climate change by at least 50% by 2030 and by at least 90% by 2050.
Focus must be placed on the most vulnerable people and communities; To support health and well-being; food and water security; infrastructure and the built environment; as well as ecosystems and ecosystem services.
It is time that we deal with climate finance with the sense of urgency and scale it deserves.
The reality is we have failed in promoting adequate ambition on finance.
To put things in perspective: according to the UNFCCC Standing Committee on Finance, developing countries need between 5 to 11 trillion US dollars, to meet their climate objectives.
And yet according to the OECD only around US$ 80 billion was mobilised. This represents less than 2% of developing country needs.
The only way we can re-establish credibility in financial provision is to set a realistic goal for developed countries to mobilise at least one trillion US dollars per annum to assist developing countries meet their climate change objectives.
COP 27 needs to focus on supporting a people -centered just equitable transition in the developing world. The urgent need is to adapt now, while we build resilience for the future. We can only avoid loss and minimize damage with the appropriate scale of public finance that does not exacerbate the indebtedness of Africa.
I thank you.
Source: Government of South Africa