Chairperson, our environment and the footprint we leave upon her is of paramount importance, as we are merely guardians of our sea, land and air for a very short time before they are handed over to the custody and care of future generations. Guardianship implies that we always act in the best interest of the subject under our care. Are we fulfilling the role? Are we doing everything in our power to ensure a sustainable environment for our future generations? We have made and continue to make great strides in this area, and the Minister and her department must be commended for that. However, there are still areas in which we are falling short, and it is to these that we wish to turn our attention.
The alleged revelation last week that it took the department seven months to respond to a dangerous underground fuel leak in KwaMashu, an area in KwaZulu-Natal, is cause for grave concern. Negligence of this nature at departmental level should not be allowed, as it contributes to the retardation of all the positive progress that the department is trying to achieve. This incident must be fully investigated and the guilty or negligent parties be heavily sanctioned, as this could have resulted in a tragic loss of human life and serious damage to the surrounding environment.
Rhino poaching is still a very serious concern, with 199 rhinos poached so far this year. However, the 122 arrests made to date show that we are really making progress, Minister. We call on the department to maintain the utmost vigilance and care when it comes to the protection of both our flora and our fauna. Antipoaching campaigns must be adequately resourced and stepped up, and criminal sanctions associated therewith must be increased and effectively meted out by our courts. Effective engagement with the security departments of the various buyer countries in the East must also be entered into in order to effectively cut off the head of this Hydra.
Our wetlands also require more adequate forms of protection, monitoring and rehabilitation, as these are treasure chests of biodiversity.
Engagement and awareness on a micro environmental level are also both necessary and mandatory if we are to effectively mitigate, at national and micro level, the environmental changes that are currently sweeping the planet. A recent study has indicated that the Greenland ice sheet is likely to be more vulnerable to global warming than was previously thought. The temperature threshold for melting the ice sheet completely is in the global warming range of 0,8C to 3,2C, with the best estimate of 1,6C above pre- industrial levels. Today, global warming of 0,8C has already been observed. The substantial melting of land ice could contribute to a long- term rise in the sea level of several metres and could potentially have serious consequences for our citizens and country.
Projects such as the RD2 research project currently being undertaken by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, which assesses multisector climate impacts and adaptation options, including socioeconomic costs, at 2C global warming and beyond, must be fully engaged with by the department and scenarios must be accurately modelled so that we are adequately prepared to mitigate the effects of a possible 2C increase in temperature.
In conclusion, the exploration and implementation of new energy pathways and a concerted commitment to sustainable energy production must be prioritised. Our current energy system must be transformed in line with global climate mitigation practices. Climate change remains a very real and contingent variable that every country in the world will have to take into account at some point or other. Let South Africa be an ambassador of responsible environmental practice. Let our actions speak far louder than our words. The IFP supports the budget. [Applause.]