CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE

Ernst & Young ®-Mashudu MundalamoDepartment of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

23 October 2008

Mitigation and Adaptation Measures

Overview of the Presentation

• Science of Climate Change• Climate Change Impacts• Key Climate Change Response Measures• Conclusion

Climate Change

Climate change is defined as a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere.

Green House Effect

Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector for South Africa

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20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000

Gg

1990 1994

Electricity

Other EnergyIndustries

IndustryTransport

Commercial Residential

Agriculture

IndustrialProcesses

Energy Sector

Beyond 2°C it becomes dangerous for us

• According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change WG2, 2007– Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate variability and change

because of multiple stresses and low adaptive capacity;

– By 2020, between 75 million and 250 million Africans are projected to be exposed to increased water stress due to climate change. If coupled with increased demand, this will adversely affect livelihoods and exacerbate water-related problems;

– Agricultural production, including access to food, in many African countries and regions is projected to be severely compromised by climate variability and change;

– In some African countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50% by 2020;

– Local food supplies are projected to be negatively affected by decreasing fisheries resources in large lakes due to rising water temperatures;

– Towards the end of the 21st century, projected sea-level rise will affect low-lying coastal areas with large populations. The cost of adaptation could amount to at least 5-10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

PROJECTED IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN AFRICA

Climate Change Response• Climate Change adaptation and Mitigation are two types of

policy response to climate change.

• even if we could stop all the concentration of GHGs emissions now, temperature will continue to rise – so we have to adapt to changes

• we have to mitigate to avoid unimaginable impacts

MITIGATION• Mitigation refers to a technological change and substitution

that reduce resource inputs and emmissions per unit of output.

Key Mitigation technology and practices by sectors

SECTORS POSSIBLE MITIGATION MEASURE/S

ENERGY • Improved supply and distribution efficiency• Fuel switching from coal to gas• Renewable heat and power (Hydropower, solar,

wind and bioenergy)• Early applications of Carbon Capture and

storage on coal fired plants• Carbon tax on energy intensive industry• Feed in tariff in renewable energy• Energy Mix i.e feeding of renewable energy into

the national grid

TRANSPORT • More fuel efficient vehicles. • hybrid vehicles, biofuel, • modal shifts from road transport to rail and

public transport systerms, non motorized transport (cycling, walking)

Key Mitigation technology and practices by sectors

SECTORS POSSIBLE MITIGATION MEASURE/SRESIDENTIAL • Improved energy efficiency of lightning's

• Improved heat insulation and building designs

• Install geyser blanket• Dont leave electrical appliances switched on

when not in use

INDUSTRIAL • More efficient end use electrical equipment• Heat and power recovery• Material recycling and substitution• Improved energy efficiency of lightning's

Key Mitigation technology and practices by sectors

SECTORS POSSIBLE MITIGATION MEASURE/SFORESTRY • afforestration, restoration and forest

management • Use of forestry products for bioenergy to

replace fossils fuelsWASTE • Landfill methane recovery

• Waste incineration with energy recovery]• Controlled waste water treatment • Recycling and waste minimization

ADAPTATION

• Adaptation refers to an initiatives and measures to reduce the vulnerability of natural and human systerms against actual or expected climate change effects.

Climate change adaptation measures CLIMATE SENSITIVE

SECTORSPOSSIBLE ADAPTATION MEASURE/S

BIODIVERSITY ANDCONSERVATION

• Ex situ conservation and seedbanks to propagate species

• Bio monitoring network in areas of high biodiversity and high predicated Climate Change

• Removal of aliens species that negatively affect water suppliers and adapted to warmer, drier climates

• Shoreline management plans

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

• Improved early warning system• Incorporate Climate Change impacts into planning

for natural disaster response management• Establish effective post disaster recovery and

support plans across sectors

Climate change adaptation measures CLIMATE SENSITIVE

SECTORSPOSSIBLE ADAPTATION MEASURE/S

HEALTH • Review health care components of disaster response plans

• Train health care staff dealing with vector and waterborne diseases

• Initiate education campaigns about heat stress and environmental health problems associated with Climate Change

WATER ANDSANITATION

• Water re use and recycling• Initiate water conservation education campaigns

and community water efficiency programs• Water Demand Management• Water rentention program

Climate change adaptation measures CLIMATE SENSITIVE

SECTORSPOSSIBLE ADAPTATION MEASURE/S

FOOD SECURITYAND AGRICULTURE

• Promote local food production through small- scale farmers’ programmes

• Educate farmers on drought resistant crops, erosion prevention and efficient water use practices to maintain production in a change climate Plant crops that are resistant to flood

• Encourages community food reserves for emergency situations.

INFRASTRUCTURE (e,g Electricity, Transportation)

• Ensure new or upgraded infrastructure, like roads, electricity, are not located in flood prone, low lying or coastal areas and that the materials and designs used account for increased temperature and severe weather.

CONCLUSION• Adaptation and Mitigation response should be balanced to meet the

challenges of climate change in decades to come.

• Climate Change vulnerability studies should also be translated effectively into concrete guidance on adaptive responses.

• Climate Change adaptation needs to be brought into the mainstream of economic policies and development projects

THANK YOU