South Africa Has Vital Role to Play as Host of COP17 - about 1 year ago

Johannesburg — AS WE look back on SA’s successful hosting of the World Cup, we should also look ahead to the next major international event on South African soil, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (known as COP17 in environmental circles), due for the end of next year.

Tens of thousands of people from all over the world will attend.

Mexico will host the next major round of climate change talks at the end of this year. It is vital that significant progress is made then if we are to achieve the ultimate goal that both SA and the UK seek: a comprehensive, equitable and legally binding global agreement. That requires strong international political will and domestic action. As COP17 host, there will be an expectation on SA to deliver both.

But it is how countries respond domestically that will determine the political momentum in the UN negotiation process. British Prime Minister David Cameron wants the UK to have “the greenest government ever”, and has identified the green economy, climate change and energy security as key priorities. The UK will argue strongly for the European Union to reduce its emissions by 30% on 1990 levels by 2020, regardless of what other countries commit to. This will require the UK to reduce its own emissions by more than 40% in the same time frame (we are already legally committed to 34%).

Some might question this priority given the impact of the global economic downturn. With the global market for low-carbon goods forecast to grow by 4% a year up to 2015, the UK sees this as a major export and employment opportunity. Since 2002, the UK has tripled the electricity it gets from renewable sources and is a leader in key sectors such as onshore wind power and biogas. And the UK’s low- carbon and environmental goods and services market, worth £112b n, already employs about 900000 people either directly or indirectly.

So our shared challenge to reduce emissions is based as much on sound economics, as it is on climate concern. Chris Huhne, the UK’s new secretary of state for energy and climate change, and his German and French counterparts argue that we have a “tremendous opportunity” to ensure the economic recovery is based on a more robust carbon price that would stimulate growth, provide jobs, tackle climate change and improve energy security. We see much of the future investment needed in sustainable low- carbon growth coming from a private sector mobilised by a policy framework of targeted incentives. In this way, adopting a 30% target for reductions in EU emissions helps provide greater certainty for investors.

Why is this important to SA? By embracing the low-carbon challenge, SA cannot only meet its ambitious commitment to a 34% reduction in emissions against business as usual by 2020, but also claim its share of the burgeoning low-carbon and environmental goods and services market, creating valuable skills and jobs.

SA is already working on a challenging set of policy initiatives: an integrated resource plan, renewable energy white paper, green jobs strategy and a climate change policy paper. With the right mix of policies, and strong buy-in from the private sector, SA will be well positioned to realise these opportunities.

I’m very keen that the UK and SA should strengthen their co-operation around green growth. President Jacob Zuma , during his state visit to the UK in March, laid down the shared challenge of doubling trade and investment between our countries over the next five years. Seven key business sectors were identified: agri-tech; skills and education; energy; financial services; infrastructure and engineering; life sciences; and natural resources. There’s a green theme in all of these, and we’re working on several initiatives to bring South African and UK business together in mutual benefit — economically and environmentally.

Next year, all eyes will again be on SA, for the UN Climate Change Conference. The challenges will be great, and the expectations high. But having staged the “greatest show on earth”, SA can no doubt help steward the world towards a low-carbon trajectory. SA will not be short of supporters. The UK will be among the loudest.

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