2014 National Climate Change Response Dialogue

Event date: 2014-11-10 (All day) to 2014-11-13 (All day)

Introduction and background

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Committee on Climate Change (IGCCC) is organizing a four day national dialogue and conference on South Africa’s National Climate Change Response, focusing on implementation. The title of the conference is: “South Africa is transitioning to a lower carbon and climate resilient economy and society.

The conference took place at Gallagher Convention Centre, in the period 10 – 13 November 2014.

The 2014 National Climate Change Response Dialogue and Conference is preceded by progress over a period of 10 years in which South Africans participated in:

A National Conference in 2005 to discuss the potential impact of climate change in South Africa, and to secure a mandate for the development of a national climate change response policy;
A National Climate Change Summit and Science conference in 2009, to review the latest international and national climate science, and develop the framework for a national climate change response policy
A National Green Economy Summit in 2010, to build a national consensus on South Africa’s green economy path
The preparatory process and South Africa’s hosting of the 17th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Durban in December 2011
The discussion, and finalisation of South Africa’s National Climate Change Response Policy in 2011

The conference will be hosted in partnership with key national departments, and in co-ordination with the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Regional Outreach Event on the 5th Assessment Report. The three IPCC Working Groupss are: (a) Working Group I: The Physical Science Basis (b) Working Group II: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability and, (c) Working Group III: Mitigation of Climate Change.

Conference objectives

The overarching vision of the National Climate Change Dialogue is to further develop South Africa’s lower carbon economy and improve its climate resilience. A common understanding between participants will be developed by presenting South Africa’s climate-related progress since the Durban Platform. The regional outreach by the International Panel of Climate Change is scheduled for the first day. Presentations by IPCC chapter leads regarding the recently published findings of the latest climate change science of the IPCC 5th Assessment Report will provide the foundation for the national dialogue.

The conference will provide a dynamic and vibrant space for demonstrating that South Africa is a country in transition to a lower carbon and climate resilient economy. It will provide an opportunity to facilitate discussion and engagement on a number of inter-connected themes that bring scientists, policy-makers and practitioners together to debate topical issues, share innovations and demonstrate best practice.

The dialogue will be held on a series of in-depth focused session as presented in the diagram below:

The specific objectives are:

To facilitate an open dialogue reflecting on the current status and major challenges on the way to a lower-carbon and resilient society.
To reinforce a common vision towards a systemic approach of transformation
To strengthen the roadmap for implementation & reaching scale
To strengthen SA’s position in the international negotiation process in Lima in December 2014, towards conclusion of a new global agreement in Paris 2015

Documents

The Conference sessions

Conference Sessions	Related documents
Session 1: A vision for 2030	National Development Plan Vision 2030 National Climate Change Response White Paper
Session 2: Possible transition scenarios for a lower carbon and climate resilient South Africa	Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity (IRP) 2010-2030 Draft 2012 Integrated Energy Planning Report Executive Summary
Session 3: The journey towards a climate resilient society	Climate Risk and Vulnerability: A handbook for Southern Africa The South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas Long Term Adaptation Scenarios: Together Developing Adaptation Responses for Future Climates
Session 4: Water-Food-Energy Nexus development	The Water-Food Energy Nexus: Insights into resilient development The Water–Energy–Food Security Nexus: Towards a practical planning and decision-support framework for landscape investment and risk management Towards the Development of an Energy-Water-Food Security Nexus based Modelling Framework as a Policy and Planning Tool for South Africa Water as an input in the food value chain Climate change, the Food Energy Water Nexus and food security in South Africa
Session 5: Developing a national adaptation response
Session 6: Moving towards a low carbon economy
Session 7: Using technology and innovation to reduce GHG emissions

Conference Sessions	Related documents
Introductory session to Day 3: Building world-class flagship programmes to lead the transition to a low carbon and climate resilience economy
Session 8: Financing the response to climate change	Green Economy Modelling Report of South Africa Private Sector Energy Efficiency Project - a brochure
Session 9: Building the skills base
Session 10: Transition technologies and energy choices for South Africa into the future
Session 11: Low carbon transport systems for South Africa
Session 12: Success and replicability of the REIPPP Programme
Session 13: Green growth, trade and competitiveness in South Africa
Session 14: Ecosystems and our ecological infrastructure	A Framework for Investing in Ecological Infrastructure in South Africa
Session 15: Carbon sinks and carbon sequestration
Session 16: Water security under a changing climate
Session 17: Climate change response in South African cities and towns	Durban Adaptation Charter
Session 18: Scaling up green buildings
Session 19: Increasing resilience and scaling up resilient human settlements	Climate Change Adaptation: Perspectives on Urban, Rural and Coastal Human Settlements in South Africa
Session 20: The role of waste in the transition to a lower carbon economy

Conference Sessions	Related documents
Introductory session to open evening: Green jobs
Session 21: Using data effectively to track the transition to a low carbon South Africa
Session 22: Paris 2015 agreement and beyond
Session 23: Tracking the transition to a climate resilience society
Session 24: Climate information and knowledge management
Session 25: Stakeholder Engagement on Paris 2015 Agreement and Beyond

Presentations

Conference Sessions	Related Presentations
The National Climate Change Response Dialogue 10 - 13 Nov 2014 - The official closing summary of key outcomes
Overall Messages from the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)
Capacity building for local science and research community (Climate Change)
Working Group I - The physical science basis	SAWS Climate projections, observations and irreversibility: what does it mean for Africa Climate extremes in Africa focusing on precipitation, floods and drought, temperature and sea level rise
IPCC Working Group 2 - Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability	The regional context Africa: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability Adaptation opportunities, constrains and limits: what does it mean for Africa
IPCC Working Group 3 - Mitigation of climate change	Mitigation pathways and measures in context of sustainable development- the energy perspective Urban Development Mitigation of Climate Change: Overview of findings of AR5 WGIII
Session 1: A vision for 2030	Mitigation of Climate Change - WG3
Session 2: Possible transition scenarios for a lower carbon and climate resilient South Africa	The Green Growth Scenario in Ethiopia Implications of Climate Change for Crop Production Integrated Energy Planning Process Water scenarios for 2050 and beyond under a changing climate Disease Control & Food Production
Session 3: The journey towards a climate resilient society	Economic Impacts of Climate Change for South Africa: An Economy-Wide Perspective to 2050
Session 4: Water-Food-Energy Nexus development	Good Business Journey 2020 Insights into resilient development – Linkages between water, food & energy Food gardens and the link between water and energy
Session 5: Developing a national adaptation response	Bridging the Gap: experiences of communicating climate information for decision-making Implementing the Durban Adaptation Charter Toward National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy The impact of climate change on rural settlements : Reflections from Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Rural Human Settlements
Session 6: Moving towards a low carbon economy	Impact of mix of measures on business South Africa’s Carbon Tax Policy Proposal an update MoMs a Mix of measures
Session 7: Using technology and innovation to reduce GHG emissions	Is South Africa ready for a low carbon transition – A DST perspective Using technology and innovation to reduce GHG emissions – wind in SA
Introductory session to Day 3: Building world-class flagship programmes to lead the transition to a low carbon and climate resilience economy	Introductory session - The Near-Term Priority Flagship Programmes
Session 8: Financing the response to climate change	The JSE as a listings and trading venue South Africa’s NIE to the Adaptation Fund: Developing an understanding of climate finance and local level adaptation
Session 9: Building the skills base	Building the skills base: Groen Sebenza - growing our future Building the skills base - South African Case Study Improving the quality of certification, measurement, verification and validation of conformity assessment results South African Weather Service: Educational Plan for Weather and Climate for South Africa
Session 10: Transition technologies and energy choices for South Africa into the future	Dialogue technology choices in the transition to a low carbon future ‘Technology’ for a just transition to a low-carbon energy future for SA.
Session 11: Low carbon transport systems for South Africa	Low-Carbon Transport Systems in South Africa: The BRT Case NCCRD - SA National Energy Development Institute Transnet’s contribution towards South Africa’s efforts to cut down emissions in the transport sector
Session 12: Success and replicability of the REIPPP Programme	The socially owned energy sector National Climate Change Response Strategy: Lessons from REIPPP – The Way Ahead
Session 13: Green growth, trade and competitiveness in South Africa	Opportunities and impacts of moving towards a greener economy South African Trade and Competitiveness Opportunities in a Green Transition.
Session 14: Ecosystems and our ecological infrastructure	’Scalibility” of NRM Interventions to address Climate Change Research Extracts on Climate Change: Adaptation and Resilience Ecological infrastructure
Session 15: Carbon sinks and carbon sequestration	Exploring the relationship between land-use based climate change mitigation and ecological infrastructure South African Carbon Stocks, Sources and Sinks Carbon Sinks and Carbon Sequestration Investments in Ecological Infrastructure to improve ecosystem services
Session 16: Water security under a changing climate
Session 17: Climate change response in South African cities and towns	Adaptation/Mitigation in South African Cities and Provinces Climate Change and Sustainable Cities
Session 18: Scaling up green buildings	Green Buildings; Green Building Standards - CIDB Scaling Up of Green Buildings - Green Building Council SA Scaling Up of Green Buildings - GreenX
Session 19: Increasing resilience and scaling up resilient human settlements	The case of Joe Slovo, N2 Gateway Project on Low Income Housing Increasing resilience and energy, thermal and water efficiency in SA homes Increasing resilience and scaling human settlements
Session 20: The role of waste in the transition to a lower carbon economy	The role of waste in the transition to low carbon economy: Joburg context A Waste Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Roadmap for South Africa (2015-2025) The Waste Management Flagship - Key messages from the flagship framework
Introductory session to open evening: Green jobs
Session 21: Using data effectively to track the transition to a low carbon South Africa	Using indicators to efficiently and effectively track South Africa’s transition to a Low-Carbon Economy and Society National GHG Inventory and tracking GHG emissions South Africa’s Climate Change Response M&E framework Tracking transition to a lower-carbon economy
Session 22: Paris 2015 agreement and beyond	National Climate Change Dialogue - Status of Negotiations and the Road Ahead Climate Finance Negotiations: Progress to Lima and Forward to Paris Negotiation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Session 23: Tracking the transition to a climate resilience society	Tracking the transition to a climate resilience society Perspectives on monitoring climate resilience in South Africa A Climate Resilient South Africa - an opportunity for transformative adaptation Transitioning South Africa to a Climate Resilient Society: A Water Sector Perspective
Session 24: Climate information and knowledge management
Session 25: Stakeholder Engagement on Paris 2015 Agreement and Beyond

Exhibition/ Open Dialogue Space on all four days

The 2014 National Climate Change Dialogue makes an open dialogue space available that invites all stakeholders to showcase and exchange on their experience of the transition towards a lower carbon and climate resilient society. This Open Dialogue space is a combination of showcasing stands and discussion tables, and opportunities for informal meetings.

Showcasing stands for the following 4 topics are available:

Funding and Investment in Climate Change Response
Ecosystem based Adaptation
Climate Change and Local Government
Climate Change Response Flagships

Throughout the 4 days this space is operating and can also be used for smaller side discussion, meetings or exchange. These meetings and discussion rounds are organised by a notice board offering every participant the opportunity to address topics and issues that are not covered in the official program or that he/she wants to elaborate further on.

The principal of using this Open Dialog Space will be explained in more detail on day 1 of the National Climate Change Response Dialogue 2014.

On the second day of the conference, 11th November 2014, we are opening the dialogue space and invite you and the broader public to join us for an interactive networking session. From 16h45 -19h00 we are inviting you to participate in the sharing and networking session focusing on Climate Technology and Innovation. This session intends to bring various practitioners and perspectives together to jointly discuss the role and current development of climate technology and innovation on our transition.

On the third day of the conference, 12th November 2014, we are inviting you to participate in the sharing and networking session focusing Green Skills and South Africa’s youth (16h45 -19h00). This session intends to bring various practitioners as well as young people together to exchange on their experience and discuss future opportunities in the green skills sector.

The open dialogue space is run throughout the conference from the 10th - 13th of November 2014 from 9h00 - 18h00 (the setup of the stands till therefore have to be on Sunday the 9th of November).

Related information

Background: Climate Change and Air Quality Management.