On 21 June 2017, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) hosted their quarterly National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) meeting with presentations from a variety of government departments including the Department of Energy (DoE), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
The DoE’s presentation did not include any new content (on the IEP and IRP) post the presentation that the department did at the public hearing in December 2016. The department did, however, promise to have a report, with all comments and suggestions included, ready by end of September 2017. Many CSOs expressed their frustrations with the lack of commitment and progress, and are not holding their breaths!
DEA themselves had a very interesting presentation on a Waste to Energy flagship programme that would be meted out in six cities. There were obvious concerns regarding the livelihoods of waste pickers and the dangers of handling hazardous materials, but there was reassurance that a jobs plan would be worked out with the local government, and the hazardous materials would be considered in the general plan. Ms Beaumont from DEA also gave a brief update regarding the Climate Change Framework that they would like to see as part of the climate change legislation of South Africa. All in all, as indicated by DEA – the suggestions and comments on the climate change legislation made by CSOs and stakeholders would be addressed and included in an upcoming report.
DST gave updates as to the research into the state of climate change in South Africa, while DIRCO provided an update on the Bonn Intercessional negotiations that took place in May 2017.
There was much to discuss but very little time to do it in. On the agenda for next NCCC meeting (expected to take place in September) …a Just Energy Transition!
