- Speaking at the 13th Petersberg climate dialogue in Berlin, Germany, South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, slammed the climate change hypocracy playing out with developed nations.
- “Just over six months after Glasgow we’re witnessing many developed countries reverting back to coal in response to their negative national circumstances,” said Creecy.
Creecy outlined that South Africa is accelerating its climate actions, in the context of just transition and sustainable development. “Since COP 26, we have finalised our Just Transition Framework, which will form the basis for our long-term climate action. To this end, we have set up a Task Team to develop an investment plan for the Just Energy Transition Partnership or “JETP” announced in Glasgow, with our Partner countries (Germany, France, the UK, the US and the EU),” said Creecy.
Creecy added that country’s Climate Bill currently before Parliament, lays the regulatory framework for the whole of government, business, organised labour and civil society to implement our country’s climate commitments.
Barbara Creecy, South Africa’s Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries. Image credit: Jabu Kumalo
“Today, we are very concerned at the lack of progress in the multilateral negotiations under the UNFCCC on key areas since COP 26. The discussions on loss and damage, finance, adaptation, and the just transition remain trapped in process-related discussions. Last year in Glasgow some developing countries were criticised for stressing their national circumstances in relation to some of the desired outcomes in the Glasgow Climate Pact. Yet just over six months after Glasgow we’re witnessing many developed countries reverting back to coal in response to their negative national circumstances.
We cannot have backtracking by developed country Parties. Developed countries must continue taking the lead with ambitious action. The ultimate measure of climate leadership is not what countries do in times of comfort and convenience, but what they do in times of challenge and controversy. Climate change is currently costing African countries between three and five percent of their GDPs. Regionally, Africa is experiencing extreme climate impacts which the Continent had very little role in causing,” said Creecy.
Link to the full speech HERE
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
