Hon Speaker and hon members of this august House, today is my first day to stand here and speak. [Applause.] I am very thankful to God my Maker for having spared me throughout the years of apartheid. My siblings did not survive this, and it is my hope that their children will understand that it is their duty to make sure that the national democratic revolution is on course. [Applause.]
The ANC has, prior to coming into power in 1994, spelt out our principles of environmental policy as contained in the broad policy statement. The ANC believes that all citizens of South Africa, present and future, have the right to a safe and healthy environment and to a life of wellbeing. The broad objective of our environmental policy will be to fulfil this right.
In this context, growth and development within South Africa will be based on the principles of sustainability. As such, we are guided by the following principles: sustainable development; equitable access to resources; public participation in development planning and management of resources; an integrated approach to environmental issues that relate to all sectors of society; and the public right of access to information and courts on issues of environmental concern. This is and was our readiness to govern as the ANC. [Applause.]
In this House today, my Minister spelt out that we were indeed serious about what we said in 1994 and before. She laid the foundation for the plan of action that we are going to implement as the ruling party in this country. We are serious about this issue that is threatening society.
You will remember that in Copenhagen as guest speaker, the Speaker of our National Assembly, hon Max Sisulu, had this to say:
The commitments that Africa seeks from the international community are based on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities for global warming and climate change. In the context of environmental justice, the continent seeks to be equitably compensated for environmental, social and economic losses.
In closing his speech, he quoted the President of the Republic of South Africa, Comrade Jacob Zuma, when speaking at the UN General Assembly in September where he explicitly stated as follows:
For Africa, the impact of climate change is devastating and will severely undermine development and poverty eradication efforts. We need to act now to ensure that there is an inclusive, fair and effective global agreement on this critical challenge. The agreement must recognise that solving the climate problem cannot be separated from the struggle to eradicate poverty. Developed countries bear the greatest responsibility for climate change and its impact. We must therefore strike a balance between adaptation and mitigation. Our goal should be to significantly reduce emissions across the globe without constraining development in the countries of the South.
Developed countries must make ambitious, quantified and legally binding emission reduction commitments that are in line with science and that address their historic responsibilities. At Copenhagen there needs to be an agreement on new, additional, sustainable and predictable financing for adaptation. This should be for programmes that reduce the vulnerability of developing countries.
Xipikara, mhaka ya ku cinca ka tlilayimeti i mhaka ya nkoka ngopfu. Tanihi swirho swa Yindlu leyi, hi fanele ku tiyimisela, hi tiyisisa leswaku eka matirhele ya hina eka tihofisi ta swifundza swa vakheti hi endla leswaku vanhu va swi twisisa leswaku mhaka ya ku cinca ka tlilayimeti i mhaka leyi munhu un'wana na un'wana a faneleka ku va a yi langutisisa swinene. Hi fanele ku langutisa leswaku ndzawulo yin'wana na yin'wana yi nghenisa mhaka ya mbangu eka madyondzisele ya yona. Hi fanele hi langutisa swinene leswaku loko ku endliwa mimpimanyeto ya tindzawulo, mhaka ya mbangu yi pimanyeteriwa ku ringana. Hi fanele hi langutisa na le swikolweni leswaku silabasi na kharikhulamu swi fanele ku dyondzisa vana leswaku va tiva hi mbangu, hikuva a swi nga eneli leswaku ku va hina ntsena lava hi tivaka kambe vana lava va hi landzelaka va tlhelela endzhaku va nga ha hlayisi mbangu. Khanimamba. [Mavoko.] (Translation of Xitsonga paragraphs follows.)
[Speaker, the issue of climate change is a very serious one. As members of this House, we have to commit ourselves to ensuring that the way we operate in our constituency offices makes the people understand that climate change is an issue that everybody has to consider seriously.
We must ensure that every department includes environmental education in their policy. We must ensure that environmental issues are adequately budgeted for during budget allocation to the departments. We must also ensure that the school syllabus and curriculum impart knowledge to children about the environment, because it will not be enough that we are the only ones who know about it, whilst the next generations revert to not conserving the environment. Thank you. [Applause.]]