Department of Science & Technology briefing on the Global Change Grand Challenge & the Climate Change Negotiations

Meeting report

Briefing by Department of Science and Technology) on Global Change Grand Challenge
Mr Imraan Patel (Chief Director: Science and Technology for Economic Impact; Department of Science and Technology) presented an introduction to the Global Change Grand Challenge and the implementation of measures to deal with global climate change to the Committee (see attached document).  Key focus areas included a ten-year research plan, interventions that supported the implementation of the research plan and the identification of areas for accelerated technological development and innovation.

The briefing included an overview of global climate change in general, the Department’s original ten-year vision and the four knowledge themes of the research plan, i.e. understanding a changing planet, reducing the human footprint, adapting the way we live and innovation for sustainability.  Key performance indicators were transformation and the development of human capital, the development of a knowledge base and assets, making an impact on the economy and society and enhancing South Africa as a science destination.

An illustration of the entities represented on the Global Change Performance and Investment Council was included in the presentation. Details of the Applied Centre for Climate and Earth Systems Studies (ACCESS) and the Earth Systems Master Programme to be introduced in 2010 at South African universities were provided.  The Global Change Monitoring Network was developing a long-term plan for space and earth observation and monitoring.  Research programmes were being developed by the Global Change, Society and Sustainability component of the Council to support the long-term planning function of the Ministry of Planning.  The Bureau on Global Change Science brought leading scientists together to assess research findings and aligned research conducted to support national policy.  The Risk and Vulnerability Atlas project integrated information from a variety of sources to provide more usable information for planning and decision-making purposes.  Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Centres were planned to be established at five rural universities over the next three to four years.  The Centres would use the Atlas to provide information, support and assistance to municipalities.

The DST supported the development of ‘green industries’ in the environmental goods and services sector, the development of alternative sources of energy and initiatives concerning waste technologies, water resources, agricultural practices to enhance food security, environmental monitoring, urban environmental development and coastal protection and management.

Briefing by Department of Science and Technology on climate change negotiations
Mr Patel briefed the Committee on the background and negotiation structure of international climate change negotiations (see attached document).

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or “the Convention”) was established fifteen years ago to consider methods to reduce global warming and to cope with the effects thereof.  Most countries (including South Africa) joined the UNFCCC treaty.  Subsequently, a number of countries approved the addition of the Kyoto Protocol to the treaty.  The Convention merely encouraged industrialized countries to stabilise green-house gas (GHG) emissions but the Kyoto Protocol committed them to do so for the five-year period 2008 to 2012.  The Conference of Parties (COP) of the UNFCCC included two permanent subsidiary bodies: the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI).

In an attempt to keep the United States of America (USA) in the negotiations, the 11^th COP meeting held in Canada in 2005 initiated a two-track process to focus on the Convention and on the Kyoto Protocol. The 13^th COP meeting in Bali agreed to the Bali Roadmap, which made provision for equal weight to be placed on the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.  The Bali Roadmap recognised that effective implementation of climate change measures required funding and the development of technology.  Bali also saw the introduction of the concept of Measurable, Reportable and Verifiable (MRV) mitigation measures by developing countries.  The MRV measures were however dependent on agreements on adaptation, technology and finance.  Currently, complex negotiations were underway.  The 15th annual meeting of the COP would be held in Copenhagen in 2009.  A draft negotiating text was in the process of being formulated but progress had been slow and there was growing concern over what can be achieved in Copenhagen.

Both mitigation and adaptation issues were crucial for South Africa.  The DST was involved in the development of long-term mitigation scenarios (LTMS) for South Africa but the country’s ability to adopt LTMS measures could be either hampered or supported by the international framework.  Article 4.5 of the Convention required developed countries to support developing countries in the development of and implementation of climate change measures.

The DST however felt that current institutional arrangements were insufficient to deliver immediate and urgent technological development, deployment, diffusion and transfer to developing countries.  Details of the Executive Body on Technology, the Multilateral Climate Technology Fund and the Technology Action Plan were included in the presentation.

In conclusion, Mr Patel reported that current negotiations were extremely dynamic, with discussions taking place both within and outside the formal negotiation structures.  There was intense lobbying by countries on mitigation measures and it was difficult to predict what would happen over the next few months.

Discussion
The Chairperson thanked Mr Patel for the detailed briefing. He asked how long the DST had been involved in the international climate change negotiations.

Mr Patel replied that the Department had been involved for more than ten years.

Ms M Shinn (DA) said that South Africa’s reluctance to sacrifice the country’s development goals was understandable.  She asked if the DST had a sense of urgency in the development of alternative ‘green’ technologies and if the Department envisaged South Africa becoming a global leader in the development of the new technologies.

Ms M Dunjwa (ANC) referred to the four knowledge areas of the research plan.  She said that the dumping of waste generated green-house gasses and she wanted to know how municipalities interacted with the DST in possible measures that can be taken to reduce the problem.  She said that the air over Soweto was polluted from the smoke from household coal fires and wanted to know what was being done to reduce the impact of the practice on climate change.  She was aware of the high cost of desalination programs but the country suffered from a lack of water and had to weigh up the cost against the lives of people.  She said that the indigenous Nguni breed of cattle was considered to be best able to survive climate change and wanted to know what research was being done on other foodstuffs in the interests of food security.

Mr L Mkhize (ANC) requested clarity on the focus on the development of sustainable urban areas.  He asked if the policy would not encourage migration from the rural areas to urban areas and if more could be done to support Government policy to develop the rural areas of the country.

Ms S Kalyan (DA) had attended the Bali conference in 2007 as a representative of the South African Government.  She mentioned a similar briefing held the previous day, when Ministers were asked to calculate their carbon footprint.  She referred to the comment made during the briefing that the “institutional arrangements were insufficient” and asked for further clarity on the statement made.  She wanted to know which entities should be represented on the Executive Body on Technology.  She wanted to know what source would provide the funding for the Multilateral Climate Technology Fund and the Technology Action Plan.  She asked how the funds would be administered.

The Chairperson asked for further explanation of the concepts of mitigation and adaptation.  He disagreed on the comment made by Mr Patel that there was a lack of involvement by the Obama administration on dealing with climate change.  He pointed out that the Markey-Waxman Bill had been introduced to the US Senate and was currently under discussion.  Senator Edward Markey was an advisor to President Obama.  In a declaration to the G8 in March 2009, the USA acknowledged the need for the developed nations to support the developing countries as well.  He understood that the aim of the Copenhagen conference was the adoption of phase two of the Kyoto Protocol.  He requested clarity on the concepts of “shared but differentiated responsibilities” referred to in the presentation.  He referred to the European Union project on carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Rome and wanted to know what progress had been made in South Africa.  He understood that CCS was very expensive.

In response to Ms Kalyan’s questions, Mr Patel explained that the institutional arrangements referred to were in the international arena.  The Executive Body on Technology and the two Technology Funds relied on contributions from countries for funding and had very weak structures.  Activities were restricted to the issue of reports.  He advised that the DST acknowledged the opportunities in the development of alternative green industries and efforts were being made to take advantage of the opportunities and to build up strength and capacity in these areas.

Replying to the question asked by Ms Dunjwa concerning waste management, Mr Patel explained that the DST’s mandate did not include the large-scale implementation of waste-management measures by municipalities.  The Department assessed various techniques and alternatives and conducted demonstrations but the decision to implement rested with the municipalities.  He cited the example of a project at a Durban landfill site to process the methane gas generated by the waste dumped at the site.  The DST would like to see communities pressurizing local councils and municipalities to implement effective waste management systems.

Mr Patel said that the desalination of sea water was a well-developed technology but was very expensive in the short to medium term.  The infrastructure required was high-tech and it took a long time to realize cost benefits.  A less expensive short-term alternative was to recycle waste water and to reconsider the use of potable water, for example using waste water for cooling purposes in mines rather than potable water.  He confirmed that the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) was considering desalination in addition to other water management alternatives.  The problem with desalination was that the process had a high-energy requirement and the generation of energy was also a high-carbon emission activity.

Mr Patel said that the air pollution over Soweto had been a problem for the last thirty years.  There were health risks associated with the use of coal stoves and attempts were being made to provide alternative means of cooking and heating, e.g. by electrification.  The Department of Human Settlements was involved as well.  The issue required careful investigation and assessment to avoid making the wrong decision.

The Chairperson remarked that Israel was considered to be the leader in desalination technology.  He asked if the technology could be imported rather than incurring the cost of development.

Mr Patel replied that the issue was a matter of learning and the DWAF was considering desalination and developing resources.  Desalination was however a long-term high-risk project.  There were a number of options available for water management.

Mr Patel advised that work was being done in South Africa on carbon capture and storage.  The problem was with the storage of captured carbon and a geological solution had to be found.  Experiments were underway with the underground storage of small quantities of carbon.  The project was of a long-term nature and the focus in the interim was on the reduction of carbon emissions.

Ms Dunjwa remarked that there were many natural springs in certain rural areas.  She wanted to know if the technology existed to detect underground water resources, which would assist communities to access such water supplies.

Mr Patel replied that the United States Geological Society had developed the technology to detect the presence of underground water from outer space.

In response to an earlier question, Mr Patel said that the DST was involved in programs to keep the gene banks of certain indigenous breeds alive, e.g. the gene banks of Nguni cattle, African chickens, wheat and African cabbage.  The entire wheat production in South Africa came from a single gene pool.  Other considerations were consumer taste preferences, determining the need for the product and funding issues.  He pointed out that there were many aspects to food security that need to be taken into consideration.

In response to Mr Mkhize’s question on sustainable urban development, Mr Patel pointed out that urbanization was a general global trend.  More than 50% of the world’s population now lived in urban areas and there were no signs of the trend being reversed.  The DST acknowledged the reality of the migration from rural to urban areas and was looking at the design of sustainable, more energy and cost-efficient cities.

Mr Patel explained the difference between the concepts of mitigation and adaptation.  Mitigation referred to the reduction of green-house gas and carbon dioxide emissions.  Extensive research was being conducted in this regard, for example research into different construction methods used in the building of houses and the amount of GHG emitted by each different method.  Countries calculated green-house gas emissions and the reduction of GHG emissions was a mitigating measure.

The Chairperson enquired why reference was made to GHG emissions prior to 1990.

Mr Patel explained that South Africa had mission records from 1990.  The emissions recorded in 2000 were also used as a baseline to track the trend in emissions and to measure the degree of change.  MRV’s were very important and the results calculated for 2005 were released recently.

With regard to the involvement of the USA, Mr Patel said that Obama Administration was not doing as much as had been anticipated.  The USA was attempting to create alternative negotiation platforms but South Africa recognised only one negotiation platform.  Nothing had been done about technology transfer.  The Markey-Waxman Bill included some provisions for technological transfer but the USA was opposed to any enforcement measures in terms of the Kyoto Protocol.  South Africa was one of the participants in the UNFCCC treaty and refused to participate in alternative forums or to make any deals outside the UNFCCC negotiation forum.

The Chairperson remarked that the Danish Prime Minister had recently highlighted the importance of support from the developed countries to the developing countries.  Brazil, China and Mexico were fast-developing countries outside the G8 and, together with Australia and South Korea, were expected to take a common position on a compromise agreement at the Copenhagen conference.

Mr Patel replied that many, complex negotiations were underway. South Africa was closely aligned with other countries and the African Union but was seen as outside Africa. South Africa’s position on climate change could compromise the country’s standing with its African peers.  Ideas were shared during discussions but commitments were only made at formal negotiations.

Mr Mac Makwarela (Deputy Director: Multilateral Cooperation; Department of Science and Technology) said that South Africa stated its formal position within the climate change framework but lobbying cannot be prevented.  The USA was seen as part of the deal and any discussions taking place outside the framework were not recorded.  Developed countries had a commitment to support the transfer of technology and provide funding to developing countries.  The technological and economic transfer over the last fifteen years had not been effective.  A study had been made on the economic impact of climate change and had found that some $160 billion had been spent, mostly in the developed countries.  Little funding had reached developing countries.  It was important for South Africa to develop partnerships to benefit from technological and economic transfers and to participate in the various committees set up for that purpose.  A fund needed to be established to support technological transfer on a long-term, sustainable basis.

Mr Patel explained what was meant by the concept of “shared and differentiated responsibilities”.  He said that all countries were responsible for dealing with climate change but not all countries were equally responsible for creating the problem.  Developed countries were required to bear a greater responsibility for climate change and make a greater effort for future mitigation measures.  The concept was strongly supported by the developing countries.  South Africa was careful not to take on an unfair burden but will continue with MRV’s and do what we can.

Ms S Molao (COPE) asked which universities would be offering the Earth Systems Masters program.

Mr Patel replied that the program would be offered by universities with the necessary capacity and facilities.  The program would be made available to the five rural universities as well.

Dr A Kaniki (Executive Director; National Research Foundation) said that discussions were held with the universities of Fort Hare, Zululand, Limpopo, Venda and North-West on each institution’s best contribution to the research program.

The Chairperson thanked Members and representatives from the Department and the Foundation for their participation.  Parliament was interested in the issues concerning climate change and the DST’s strategy on climate change.  Members were preparing for the Copenhagen conference scheduled for later this year.

The meeting was adjourned.