Policy: Third climate change report out for comment

Comment is sought by 30 July on SA’s draft third  national communication report to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), reports Pam Saxby for Legalbrief Policy Watch. Among other things, the document discusses adaptation and mitigation measures adopted in response to observed trends since 2011 – as well as in anticipation of projected changes. It nevertheless concedes that – in the absence of consensus on best practice and a standard approach to monitoring risk and vulnerability – the process of evaluating adaptation interventions and estimating climate costs will remain ‘considerably challenging’. Efforts to compile an accurate greenhouse gas emission inventory continue to be hampered by the non-availability of activity data.

Outlining priorities and institutional arrangements in the context of UNFCCC reporting obligations, the draft report notes that – as a developmental state – SA’s approach to climate change adaptation planning must dovetail with its overarching commitment to reducing inequality and poverty. This is noting the ‘likely’ impact of climate change on the country’s ability to meet its socio-economic development goals. Against that backdrop, the document reports that – while ‘noticeable progress’ has been made since 2011 in creating an ‘enabling environment for climate change adaptation’ through the development of ‘sector- and location-specific … response plans and strategies’ – it will not be possible to implement them effectively without the necessary financial resources, human capacity, research and access to information.