Breakfast Launch

Helen Davies

WESTERN CAPE CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE STRATEGY (2014)

24 February 2014

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Overview of the Presentation

2003 - 2008 direct damage costs associated with climate related extreme events in the WC = approx R 3.16 billion 2009/10 Eden District drought damage est. = R300 million2011 Eden District floods est. = R350 million 2012 floods est. = R500 million

Poor communities - most vulnerable

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Carbon pricing will impact WC dramatically. E.g. R100 / ton carbon tax introduced in Europe will add R0.22 to the cost of 1kg of fruit from Overberg. Same tax would add R0.09 to 1kg of fruit from Chile. (Green is Smart 2013)

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Addressing Climate Change Can Provide Opportunities

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Context: Climate Change Projections for the WC

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Increased mean annual temperatures

Higher minimum temperatures, fewer cold days and frost days

Higher maximum temperatures, more hot days and more heat waves

Increased mean sea level and associated storm surges

General drying trend in western part of the country

Intensification of rainfall events

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Key Changes to the 2008 Strategy

Alignment with the National Climate Change Response Policy (NCCRP)Better balanced (adaptation & mitigation) and better integrated with other key strategies, policies etc. Alignment with the PSOs, adaptation and mitigation programmes and promoting transversal climate change responses Simplified to facilitate easier implementation

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3 Components to the Strategy

Strategy document (current)

Implementation Framework (under development in 2013/14)

M&E Framework (2014/15)

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Two Key Objectives

Reduce climate vulnerability / develop adaptive capacity of WC economy, society and ecosystems

Significantly reduce GHG & build sustainable low carbon economy – addressing economic growth, job creation & improved socio economic conditions

Reduce risks and capitalise on opportunities

Adaptation Mitigation

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Overall Approach to Mitigation

Focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable transport

Defining baselines - WC Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions Database & energy base-lining for WCG Buildings

Identifying Long-Term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS) to direct action

Sustainable Energy Plan Development, Integrated Energy Strategy & Sustainable Energy projects database

Identifying economic/ financial instruments to support above

Understanding socio-economic risks and opportunities around climate change mitigation

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Overall Approach to Adaptation

Dealing with Complexity and Uncertainty

Institutionalisation and mainstreaming of climate change response• WCG: aligning sector specific strategies & plans (e.g. Green Economy,

Infrastructure Framework, Health Plan) & develop sector plans where required (e.g. Agriculture)

• District & local municipalities – CCT, MSP, knowledge networks and partnerships, decision support and access to expertise, co-ordinate report to national departments

Research • Monitor changing conditions • Innovate – technical and social responses • Understanding emergent conditions created as a result of climate

change • Innovative ways of financing climate change adaptation at the local level

Adaptation projects database to track progress and guide action

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Strategy Focus Areas

• Energy efficiency & demand side management

• Renewable energy• Built environment

o Critical infrastructureo Waste minimisation &

managemento Human settlements

• Sustainable transport• Water security & efficiency

=> Scaling up of existing & development of new programmes=> Aligned with national flagships & green economy

strategy drivers & enablers

Communication & awareness raising FinanceJob creation

• Biodiversity & Ecosystem Goods & Services

• Coastal & Estuary Management

• Food security• Healthy Communities

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Implementation Framework

Programme Focus Area (s)

Time-frame Lead Organisation

Support Organisations

Outputs

Municipal Climate Change Support Programme (MSP)

Energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transport, water security, the built environment, coastal, biodiversity, etc

Ongoing DEA&DP Municipalities, ICLEI Africa, CSIR, SALGA, UCT, etc

Local level climate adaptation and sustainable energy plans; partnerships; knowledge portal; technical;/expert support

Food Energy Water Nexus

Energy efficiency, renewable energy, water security, food security, biodiversity, etc

Phase 1 : 2013/14

Phase 2 : 2014/15

ACDI (UCT) DEA&DP, DEDAT Resource nexus decision support model at sub-catchment scale

Long-Term Mitigation Scenarios

Energy efficiency, renewable energy, etc

2013/14 DEA&DP DEDAT, ERC (UCT), Eskom, municipalities, etc

Understanding the interventions required in the Western Cape to meet the National emissions trajectory Scenarios planning report

Partnerships

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What will it cost?

Stern Review – Economics of Climate Change (2006): • No action: overall costs and risks of climate change = to

losing at least 5% of global GDP each year, now and forever. • Considering wider range of risks and impacts estimates of

damage up to 20% of GDP or more.”• Costs of action – reducing GHG emissions to avoid the worst

impacts of climate change –around 1% of global GDP each year

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Key take home messages

Our poorer communities and economies are the most

vulnerable to the impacts of climate change

Climate change is not a separate priority or agenda, competing

with other priorities within the province, but instead needs to

be mainstreamed into all priority (and other) agendas of the WC

Any delays in considering climate change in decision making

increase the likelihood of locking us into costly and

inappropriate planning and infrastructure development

Irresponsible NOT to address climate change

Thank you

Tel: Fax:

www.westerncape.gov.za

Contact Us

Helen DaviesDirector: Climate Change and Biodiversity

+27 (0)21 483 5126

+27 (0)21 483 4440

helen.davies@westerncape.gov.za