South Africa and the IPCC Report
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – the IPCC – released its Global Warming of 1.5°C Report on the 8 October 2018. Shortly thereafter, the Alternative Information & Development Centre (AIDC)presented this report to a group of concerned civilians and civil society organisations including Project 90 by 2030 – an event I attended and found thought-provoking, to say the least. The report makes irrefutably clear the fact that South Africa (and every other nation on this planet) is not doing enoughto keep global temperatures from warming by more than 1.5°C – the threshold (barely) to prevent catastrophic climate change. South Africa is the world’s 14th largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Its CO2 emissions are principally due to a heavy reliance on coal.The IPCC Report makes clear that urgent and bold changes in our systems are needed: how we generate and use energy, how we transport ourselves and goods, and what we investour money in. In a nutshell, South Africa (and by default, the world) has to double it’s efforts to produce renewable, clean energy and drastically reduce fossil fuel-driven electricity whilst ensuring policies take into account the imbalances in wealth in this country. If, and only if, we radically change our systems – and do it right now – this may save us from some really appalling conditions looming ahead.
Project 90’s Vision for a Low-Carbon Future
The presentations made me acutely aware of what an amazing organisation I work with. Project 90 by 2030 had a vision in 2007 – long before it became so topical – to inspire and mobilise South Africans to change the way we engage with our earth systems and one another – to achieve a low-carbon, healthy future where our rights to a healthy environment are enshrined by law. We have been incredibly busy as part of the larger Energy Governance South Africa (EGSA) network and our Just Energy Transitioncampaign, to ensure that the voices of the poorest amongst our citizens and our youth were heard in Parliament at the Public Hearings of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2018)hosted by the Portfolio Committee on Energy (PCE) in October 2018. Please make sure to read Charmaine Pretorius from Hillside’s submission in this Newsletter. The opportunity to tell her story to Parliament was an empowering experience for Charmaine and her community. We also worked with young leaders (YouLead Warriors) from Khayelitsha who participated in the hearings as part of our ongoing initiatives to support public participation in the energy debateand developing climate leaders in South Africa. An energy plan that mitigates the suffering caused by high energy tariffs is imperative; an IRP that curbs further damage to people’s health and the environment caused by fossil fuel-generated power is vital. The Project 90 Policy and Advocacyteam, as well as the entire Project 90 crew(who are all superheroes to me) have worked tirelessly to ensure that Government is held to accountand upholds the precepts set by the Paris Accord.
Developing Young Climate-Leaders in South Africa
It is clear we need courageous and innovative leadership to move us towards aJust Energy Transitionand that serious resources need to be allocated towards planning for the challenges that lie ahead. Our dream-project is to support community-owned, democratically-controlled, financially viable energy installationsthat benefit all citizens and actually improve the quality of their (read ‘our’) lives. To this end, Project 90 by 2030 has partnered with community leaders – predominantly female from severely under-resourced areas like Hillview – to create spaces where communities can engage with local Government and actively participate in development plans for their neighbourhoods. Coupled with our innovative youth leadership programmeand our active participation in creating climate mitigating policiesand plans, I am really proud to be working with a team who put so much effort into changing the status quo in this country. To all our partners across Civil Society Organisations, local and national government, business and Individuals who have helped us achieve so much thus far, a resounding THANK YOU! Together, arm in arm, we can change the way we do things and how we behave towards one another. Have a very blessed rest over your holidays coming up soon.
