LEADERSHIP ROLE OF PARLIAMENT IN CLIMATE CHANGE

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LEADERSHIP ROLE OF PARLIAMENT IN CLIMATE CHANGE 
Theme Parliament as a champion for action on
climate change

• Presented by Sisa Njikelana Member of Climate
  Change Steering Committee
• 13TH and 14th September 2011

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BACKGROUND

• Strategic aim of the workshop
• Empower Members of Parliament
• Instill confidence building amongst MPs
• Ensure role of Parliament on preparations for COP
  17 are on firm footing
• Launching pad for Climate Change
• Theme Parliament as a champion for action on
  climate change.

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BACKGROUND

• From Copenhagen to Cancun to eThekwini
• Prospects of success in COP 17
• Entrenched economic interests
• Trade vis-a-vis demise of DOHA ROUND

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CONTEXT

• SA Constitution provides framework for provision
  of leadership
• Vision core functions of SA Parliament
• Ultimate political power lies with the people

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South African National Framework for Sustainable
Development Interdependence between People
Planet - Prosperity
National Framework for Sustainable Development
(NFSD) Vision South Africa aspires to be a
sustainable, economically prosperous and
self-reliant nation state that safeguards its
democracy by meeting the fundamental human needs
of its people, by managing its limited ecological
resources responsibly for current and future
generations, and by advancing efficient and
effective integrated planning and governance
through national, regional and global
collaboration
The vision is informed by the environmental,
social and economic and other fundamental human
rights enshrined in our Constitution, and the
global and national priorities captured in the
Millennium Development Goalsand the governments
macro socio-economic policies. It is a projection
of our nations aspirations of achieving a better
quality of life for all now and in future,
through equitable access to resources and shared
prosperity. It places the nation on a
developmental trajectory which of necessity must
move society towards greater efficiency and
innovation in resource use, and the integration
of social, economic, ecological and governance
systems. (NFSD)
The NFSD is congruent with the Vision of
Parliament To build an effective peoples
Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the
people and that is driven by the ideal of
realising a better quality of life for all the
people of South Africa
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Strategy, risk, performance and sustainability
are inseparable Excerpts from the King III Code
Sustainability is the primary moral and economic
imperative of the 21st century. It is one of the
most important sources of both opportunities and
risks for businesses. Nature, society, and
business are interconnected in complex ways that
should be understood by decision-makers.
Inclusivity of stakeholders is essential to
achieving sustainability and the legitimate
interests and expectations of stakeholders must
be taken into account in decision-making and
strategy.
Innovation, fairness, and collaboration are key
aspects of any transition to sustainability
innovation provides new ways of doing things,
including profitable responses to sustainability
fairness is vital because social injustice is
unsustainable and collaboration is often a
prerequisite for large scale change.
Social transformation and redress from apartheid
are important and should be integrated within the
broader transition to sustainability. Integrating
sustainability and social transformation in a
strategic and coherent manner will give rise to
greater opportunities, efficiencies, and
benefits, for both the company and society.

• Parliaments Values are compatible with the above
  approach to sustainability
• We subscribe to social justice, fundamental human
  rights and the democratic values of human
  dignity, equality and freedom
• We respect all our people, honour our integrity
  and are committed to service delivery.
• We co-operate with other spheres of government.
• We are accountable and transparent, provide value
  for money, are customer-focused and strive for
  the highest service quality.

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WHY SUSTAINABILITY RISK HAS BECOME A MAJOR GLOBAL
ISSUE
Recent studies have shown that people are
consuming more resources than can be replenished
annually. Illustratively, this is similar to
using one and a third earths worth of resources
annually . This is creating a significant deficit
and is expected to result in significant impacts
in a few years time, such as forecast massive
water shortages in South Africa by 2015 and
effects of climate change. The move towards
sustainability is an attempt at averting such
crises. The diagram below shows the expected
trend in resources available versus resources
required. Organisations have started to
understand the effect of interdependencies and
also shown below is a diagram of how financial
and manufactured capital are dependent on human
and social capital which in turn relies on
natural capital.
Source University of Cambridge Programme for
Sustainability Leadership
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OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAMME

• The approach is guided by four core pillars,
  aimed to -
• ensure enhanced oversight, assess and monitor
  negotiations, facilitate public participation
• promotion of campaign on climate change, promote
  South Africas position and the African Common
  Position on climate change,
• Mobilisation- lobbying, networking and engaging
  communities through Parliamentary Constituency
  Offices, Sectoral Parliaments.
• Constituency work focusing on climate change

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OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAMME

• TOOL KITS currently developed for MPs
• Host a National Consultative Forum
• A Communication Strategy (media, radio and print)
  
• The strategy focus on build up activities
  (e.g. Parliamentary committees, Sectoral
  Parliaments, Globe Legislators Forum, joint
  initiatives and session with IPU , participation
  of Parliament in COP 17 and other related
  activities.)
• Articles on climate change In Session,
  information on website and DVD

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WHAT DO WE EXPECT FROM PARLIAMENT?

• Ratification of international instruments
• Oversight
• Facilitate public participation - constituency
  work
• Engage on international activities
• Ensure Parliament integrates climate change
  issues into committee programmes
• Legislation policy framework white paper and
  Climate Change legislation

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ON LEADERSHIP ROLEInternal considerations

• Drive Parliament Programme!!!!!
• Political management
• Cooperate and coordinate with staff
• Create high levels of interest among public
  representatives
• Ensure SA Parliament serves as a model

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ON LEADERSHIP ROLEExternal considerations

• Integrate with government national priorities
• Building consensus and advancing unity
• Promotion of African Common Position
• Monitor negotiations - observe without directly
  participating
• Facilitate general empowerment of citizens

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STRATEGIC APPROACH

• Save Climate Change negotiations not to slide
  into demise like DOHA Round
• eThekwini should NOT be the graveyard of the
  Kyoto Protocol ? meaning pull all stops to
  mobilize all our networks locally, continentally
  and globally ? AGN
• Focus on second commitment on Kyoto Protocol
• Display broadest support locally globally

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CONCLUSION

•  Expectations on Parliament to provide leadership
• Take advantage of hosting the AFRICAN COP to
  mobilise on climate change MDGs
• Contribute in building a national consensus with
  realistic approach
• Overall oversight on negotiations in preparation
  for ratification

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CONCLUSION

•  Opportunity
•  Introduction of paradigm shift in the
  development through addressing challenges on
  climate change
• Enhancement of role and contribution of
  Parliament on climate change e.g. mandatory
  national energy efficiency programme, promotion
  of environmental biodiversity, green economy
• Broaden support base to drive for optimal
  outcomes in COP 17 through local regional
  legislatures, PAP, IPU, GLOBE, etc

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CONCLUSION

• Promote public participation especially
• Reinforcing working relations between Parliament,
  organised civil society, government and
  intelligentsia.
•   Provision of leadership as a legislature and as
  public representatives
• LEADING BY EXAMPLE
• Parliament as a champion for action
• on climate change