The Western Cape Government has been accepted to join ‘The Climate Group – States & Regions Alliance’, an international group of provincial, state and regional governments that are actively tackling climate change.
The Climate Group brings together the world’s most influential state and regional governments to accelerate the global transition to a low carbon economy.
Members share expertise on innovative policy, report on measurable climate actions and drive ambitious emissions reductions.
The States & Regions Alliance is currently a network of 35 governments from six continents which collectively account for 354 million people, 12% of global GDP and 2.9 gigatons of CO2 emissions.
All the members are spearheading impactful climate policy in their countries.
Following the historic Paris Agreement, The Climate Group is supporting states and regions around the world to adapt to climate impacts, limit emissions by 2020 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Climate Group works with state and regional governments in four key areas: i) Promotes state and regional climate leadership; ii) Drives net-zero emissions; iii) Demonstrates impact and action globally; and iv) Shares and scales the policies that work.
Provincial Minister Anton Bredell, said: “We are all responsible for the changing climate and we are all responsible to try and mitigate it. It is important that we stand as one and work together towards finding solutions for our global problems. By forming partnerships with influential stakeholders, we can ensure that we are taking steps in the right direction. Businesses, governments and citizens should all play their part in taking climate action BETTER TOGETHER.”
The Western Cape Government was the first provincial government in South Africa to highlight climate change concerns starting with initial studies and a first generation climate change strategy in 2008. We now have a provincial wide Climate Change Response Strategy and Implementation Framework that was finalised in 2014, which covers all key sectors of the Province.
The Western Cape Government acknowledges that climate change is an economic and a social challenge and will undermine the region’s development gains if not well prepared. It will impact food, water and energy security, our health and wellbeing, our living conditions, and the infrastructure and transport networks that our economic activities depend upon. Climate change is already affecting the most vulnerable communities in this province.
The Western Cape Government will through this new partnership network, aim to raise its provincial and local government climate change ambition and delivery as well as share internationally the innovation and successes of current climate change initiatives.
Some examples include: the first sub-national climate change monitoring and evaluation report, the pioneering sectoral subnational climate change response plan (SmartAgri) in South Africa, the Energy Security Game Changer, climate change forums and databases. Furthermore the aim is to be able to share and learn from peers in similar subnational government to accelerate our action and response to climate change. By building strong relationships between participating governments and fostering bi-lateral and multilateral partnerships, the Western Cape Government aims to accelerate the development of new policy solutions and implementation responses on the ground.
Libby Ferguson, States & Regions Director, The Climate Group, said: “Climate change is a collective issue and one that needs to be tackled with global collaboration. State and regional governments around the world are critical in this challenge, and that is why we’re thrilled to welcome Western Cape as a new member of our States & Regions Alliance. Having the support and commitment from such a government will help us drive climate action both at a local and a global level.”
ENDS.
Issued By:
Rudolf van Jaarsveldt
Head of Communication
Western Cape Government Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Telephone : 021 483 4051
Mobile : 076 3195 027
Email : Rudolf.vanJaarsveldt@westerncape.gov.za
Website : www.westerncape.gov.zza/eadp