WEDNESDAY,
06 DECEMBER 2006: Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South
African Minister of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism, and his Australian counterpart, Senator
Ian Campbell, have signed a letter of intent to
co-operate on mutually beneficial issues related
to climate change.
Minister Van Schalkwyk commented,
“South Africa and Australia are at comparable
latitude in the Southern hemisphere and consequently
have similar climatic conditions and similar challenges
due to climate change. Both countries need to
implement policies and measures in the biodiversity
sphere and also in the agricultural sector. Through
practical joint activities and mutual learning,
we will be able to enrich our respective domestic
programmes to adapt to the devastating impacts
of climate change with a view to conserving our
rich biodiversity, and achieving improved food
security.”
According to the Minister, “In
terms of mitigation, there is also expertise to
share on greenhouse gas emissions reporting and
monitoring. Both countries are also very rich
in coal, are coal exporters and generate a large
proportion of their energy from coal. Both countries
therefore have a very strong interest in research
and development of clean coal technologies as
a way of meaningful participation in global mitigation
efforts.”
The Minister said, “Co-operation
on climate change is in our national interest
and will contribute to the achievement of the
objectives of ASGISA.” The ministers from the
two countries agreed in principle to explore co-operation
in Montreal in December last year and during the
past year, senior officials from the two departments
exchanged information and experiences with a view
to finalising the framework for co-operation.
Now that the two Ministers have agreed to the
focus areas of mutual interest, our respective
officials will continue with the development and
implementation of joint activities. These joint
activities will also involve government’s partners
including business, industry, NGOs and the scientific
community.
The full text of the letter
of intent follows:
This Letter of Intent embodies
the understandings between the Department of the
Environment and Heritage - Australian Greenhouse
Office of the Commonwealth of Australia and the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
of the Republic of South Africa (hereinafter referred
to as the Departments) about their bilateral partnership
on climate change.
The Departments mutually consent
to the following on a voluntary basis:
1. The Departments intent to
work together on climate change related activities
of mutual benefit.
2. Each Department will facilitate
and encourage, to the extent possible, participation
by business, industry, non-governmental organisations
and the scientific communities in bilateral climate
change activities and projects undertaken under
this Letter of Intent.
3. In accordance with their
prevailing domestic laws and regulations, and
subject to available resources, and avoiding duplication
with other bilateral activities, the Departments
will identify, develop and implement a program
of joint activities designed to deliver practical
outcomes of mutual benefit.
4. The Departments envisage
voluntary joint activities in the following areas:
• climate change impacts and
adaptation in the agriculture sector;
• climate change and biodiversity;
• greenhouse gas emissions reporting and monitoring
at national and entity levels; and
• exchanging experiences and lessons learned on
climate change policies and measures - with a
particular focus on clean coal technologies and
regulatory and institutional frameworks.
5. The terms and conditions
of individual joint activities will be developed
through discussion and mutual consent between
the Departments.
6. The Departments will establish
regular interaction and information exchanges
to monitor and review activities under the Letter
of Intent, and may add activities should this
be mutually determined.
7. This cooperation will occur
for an initial period of three (3) years with
a view to continuation if both Departments consider
that the partnership continues to be of benefit.
Either Department may terminate this cooperation
by providing written notice to the other Department.
Blessing Manale (Acting Chief Director: Communications)
Riaan Aucamp (Minister's Spokesperson)
