SA joins Global Climate Network

Greater collaboration is needed, both between and within countries, to move towards a sustainable future, according to speakers at the official introduction of SA to the Global Climate Network (GCN), in Johannesburg this week.

Britain's high commissioner to SA, Dr Nicola Brewer, said at the event, hosted by the network's South African member, Imbewu Sustainability Legal Specialists, that the GCN was essential to building support for the transformation to low-carbon economic development.

The GCN consists of nine organisations in countries including the UK, US, Germany, Brazil, Nigeria, Australia, China, India, and SA, which aim to work together to help bridge the divide between international negotiations and national policies around climate change.

“The network allows all its members to draw on and share best practice, and brings together some of the world's brightest minds to figure out and pose a progressive solution to climate change,” said Brewer.

“This sort of collaboration is critical to ensure a coordinated effort in helping to create the political space the government needs to act, and by linking climate change policies to human security and economic progress.”

Brewer argued that, while the UN conference in Copenhagen did not achieve a legally binding agreement to avoid calamitous climate change, it did produce an accord signalling a permanent move to a low-carbon economy. “What's essential now is to make sure we get global momentum behind that accord, so it serves as a foundation to build on towards the goal before us.”

Simon Retallack, associate director and head of climate change at London's Institute for Public Policy Research, said: “Looking ahead, one of the key lessons we can learn from Copenhagen is the need to focus on getting political conditions right at national level for the transition to a low-carbon economy, instead of taking in turns meaningful progress at the international level.”

Brewer added that SA could not wait for a global deal to start making changes. “Domestic transformation is the key to global action. It's really important, particularly for emerging economies like SA, to recognise that a transition is taking place, and taking place quite quickly.

Brewer noted there are important decisions to be made in SA, regarding whether it will choose to protect the traditional structure of its economy, or take part in the transition to low-carbon. “I hope SA chooses to take part, because quite apart from its global responsibility as the world's 12th largest emitter of CO₂, it makes sense for SA, economically, to be at the forefront of the low-carbon transformation.”

She added that, while the industrial revolution widened the gap between developed and developing countries, the threat from climate change would invert this trend. “The next revolution, the green revolution, is now taking place, and is providing opportunities for developed and developing countries to move forward together.”

In addition to climate benefits, there are real economic benefits, said Brewer, revealing that the global market for low-carbon environmental goods and services is estimated to grow from £3 trillion (R36.8 trillion) to £4.3 trillion (R52.7 trillion), in 2015. “It's really big business.”

Brewer recognised SA's offer to reduce emissions by 34% against business as usual by 2020, saying the country's direction and intention was clear and positive. ”The challenge now is to deliver on that, and government and the private sector need to work really closer together to develop the right policy environment.

“This will support and encourage business, maintain and build economic effectiveness, protect and expand the export base, and create new sustainable jobs. So, there's a real resonance with the domestic agenda here in SA.”

Retallack said the GCN aims, through joint collaboration and research, to help lay the foundations for the opening up of a political space in which effective policy decisions can be made.

According to Retallack, the alliance members have been working on a series of research reports during the past two years, the first being on technology. “There's a huge appetite for low-carbon technology, but without the right policies, they won't be deployed to the extent required,” he said.

Imbewu prepared the South African report on low-carbon tech through a series of interviews with national role-players. The report states that there's a clear need to scale-up this market according to a “national clean technology road map”, which should be developed collaboratively between different stakeholders, as well as creating a regulatory environment that will optimise investment.

The network also conducted studies on job creation, showing that, with the right policies, low-carbon development has the potential to create 20 million jobs in the GCN member countries by 2020, including 845 000 in SA. The latest report focuses on financing action on climate change, and is being finalised.

Imbewu MD Catherine Warburton said this research is of vital importance, particularly for developing countries like SA, which are in the process of formulating strategies around climate change. “This is a crucial time for us, and we're hoping for a strong regulatory framework for change, which will support many of the initiatives South African businesses have already taken.”

Government is finalising the national policy on climate change, with a green paper due to be published for comment in April. “There's a huge need for a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach, because of the complexity of the problem,” noted Warburton.

“Government has to communicate clearly what its needs are in terms of research, so the work around sustainable issues can be as relevant as possible, and promote the implementation of sustainable practices.

“We need a strong government system, including a good legal foundation, in order to participate at optimal level in international research projects. We're hoping that Africa, as a whole, and not only SA, participates more strongly, and realises the benefits for all countries on the continent.”