The Eastern Cape can expect a temperature increase of between 1.5% and 2.5% by 2050 the South African government announced in June. This information, along with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17) being hosted in Durban later this year and that the South African Climate Policy was approved on the 12th of October indicates that a spotlight will focus sharply on environmental affairs and climate change in the Eastern Cape.
In a government report presented in the East London in June, it was suggested that; food shortages arising from failed maize crops and lower milk production, health issues and biodiversity loss are some of the major challenges for the province. The report further pointed out that rising sea levels are expected to continue due to increasing sea temperatures.
The importance of ensuring that companies in the Eastern Cape have environmental strategies in place, and that the necessary green capacity is built in-house, is therefore of great importance. 'Companies have to realize that it is not just about compliance – it is a strategic imperative for businesses to plan for the future, to integrate sustainability into their strategies, and thereby ensure their own survival and competitiveness,', says Kevin James, CEO of Global Carbon Exchange (GCX). GCX is a Cape Town based environmental consultancy and training provider who provide services across the environmental spectrum from the country- from water, waste, energy and carbon management; to individual and in-house training. Early in November, the company hosted their first Carbon Footprint Analyst course in PE.
According to James, 'It is necessary that we start looking at the issues of climate change from a collaborative and integrated point of view. The more people become aware, involved and up-skilled, whilst sharing learnings; the greater our ability to address the climate concern together.'. At the Eastern Cape Climate Change Conference, held in East London earlier this year, this sentiment was echoed. Extending on insights from the conference, Siya Miti of GetNews, describes how the Eastern Cape Climate Action Support Programme (ECCASP), discussed at the conference, is seen as an excellent opportunity to leverage off three imperatives; climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and job creation. Miti quoted the MEC of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, Mcebisi Jonas, saying that the project can yield an estimated R 200 million through sequestration with the potential of creating 1 000 labour intensive jobs. He was making specific reference to the Spekboom (Portulacaria Afra) restoration initiative that focuses on 'carbon farming'. The project looks at the best way of restoring degraded veld using spekboom; and the feasibility of spekboom restoration earning income via the carbon economy in the eastern Cape.
There are therefore different initiatives underway to ensure that the Eastern Cape adapts for the future, and it is likely that the rest of the country will look to the projects undertaken in the Eastern Cape as examples for exploring the potential of the sustainability sector. It is also likely that the international community will continue to look to South Africa as a thought leader in policy formation, a developing country at the forefront of realizing a greener economy, and introducing new measures such as a Carbon Taxation. |
