Hon Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Minister, hon members and guests in our gallery...
IsiXhosa:
... molweni eMpuma Koloni.
English:
Hon Chairperson, more than half a century ago, we did not have climate change challenges we are experiencing today. The world has
changed a lot since the end of the World War II. The advent of industrialisation has not only made social and economical easier for us. For example, in the medical treatment of some of the deadliest diseases such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and the development of mining, but it has again sadly contributed to destructive climate change patterns.
Indeed climate change is a reality. The urgency of dealing and combating the reality of climate change is upon us all. There is no time to point fingers at each other and accuse one another of not doing anything to reserve the harmful impact of climate change. As the ANC we believe in collectivism and actions orientated towards climate change combat must be informed by our clear conscious collective action. The stakes are the same for all of us; it is either collective environmental security or collective extinction. Do we dare hesitate? No.
Hon Chairperson, section 24 in our Bill of Rights in the Constitution deals with the environment and stipulates that:
Everyone has the right to:
a) To an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and
b) To have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that -
i) prevent pollution and ecological degradation;
ii) promote conservation; and
iii) secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
There can be no doubt amongst us seated today in this House that this is a progressive provision in our Constitution. Chapter 2 of our Constitution deals with human rights and environmental rights are recognised as human rights, and I dare say that without section 24, the right to life contained in section 11 of the Constitution becomes inconceivable. The environment provides all that is necessary for the maintenance and sustainability of life on earth.
In giving effect to section 24, this Parliament has passed enabling legislation, National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act of 2013 in order to ensure the rights contained in the Constitution of the Republic. It is not with misplaced confidence that I stand here before this House and declare, National Environmental Management
Laws Amendment Act as a progressive legislation, not only in the country but globally. This Act promotes co-operative governance and further recognises the importance of economic development. The United Nations, through its organ - the Economic and Social Council, Ecosoc, holds that its member states acknowledge that rising global food and fuel prices, environmental degradation and climate change require an early concerted action.
As a globe, we are faced a catch 22 type like situation. There is an interlinked between the climate change, environmental degradation and sustainable livelihoods. Climate change is caused by environmental degradation caused through human activity in a quest to sustain their livelihoods. We are beginning to source for other sources of sustainable livelihoods without impacting negatively heavy on our environment. This is mainly so because the world has come to a realisation that we have been pursuing an unsustainable development path and strides must be taken to find sustainable model of development that will guarantee us the future.
Hon Chairperson, in giving effect to section 24 (b) of the Constitution, this Parliament will receive the Climate Change Bill, as announced by the President in his state of the nation address. This Bill aims to build the country's effective climate change
response and provide for a just transition to a climate resilient and lower carbon economy and society, within a framework of an environmentally sustainable development. South Africa's just transition to a climate resilient and lower carbon economy and society is clearly articulated in the White Paper on National Climate Change Response.
Cognisant to the fact that ours is to build a prosperous democratic society as that ANC, our approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation response must help address the needs of the poor and the vulnerable sectors of our society. The energy sector contributes about 8% towards total emission and electricity generation is the biggest emitter. The growth of our economy is dependent on electricity generation. Our economy is not doing well and we know how the country's economy is dependent on reliable energy supply. The world energy forces are divided into three: a fossil fuel, nuclear fuel and renewables.
The reality is that our energy generation is dependent of fossil fuel from coal supply. In order to respond to the urgency of combating climate change through mitigation, as the President had announced in his state of the nation address 2020, we will diversify
energy capacity from renewable energy, natural gas, hydro power, battery storage and coal.
The ANC is working towards placing the economy on a qualitatively different path and this requires the stability and security of energy supply. As the organisation we support the Integrated Energy Plan of government which aims, amongst others, to realise the efficient supply of sustainable energy to meet the demands of our growing population and help grow our economy.
It has been reported by government that until to date, a total of
6 422 megawatts under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers programme has been produced, with 3 876 megawatts operational and made available to the grid. We know the positive spins off of renewable energy of reduced carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
As we I close my debate hon Chairperson, as the progressive people's movement, the ANC leadership resolved that:
In the long run South African must attain reliable, lower-cost and lower carbon energy supply to ensure the competitiveness of the economy and to enable job creation and the development of new
industries. We are speaking of green aviation fuel, green steel and green fertilisers and chemicals.
The ANC remains committed to a just and fair world that protects the environment and promote sustainable development. Drawing from our own experience as a 108-year old sustainable liberation movement, we will continue to work closely with international progressive organisation to ensure that we leave behind a legacy of caring and protecting our environment for future generations. I thank you Chairperson.