DEA&DP revising Climate Change Response Strategy to better manage risk.

The Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) has taken a decision to review its Climate Change Response Strategy to better manage risk in the future. The review will direct the focus to two components of climate change: emission reduction priorities and resilience.

Anton Bredell, the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, says experience has shown that many disasters can be prevented if there is sufficient disaster risk reduction implementation in place.

“Adequate mitigation means you can better manage and reduce existing levels of risk and avoid the creation of new risk. The department’s plan comes at a time where the world is still reeling under the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, with the global population feeling vulnerable and uncertain. The Department’s new strategy is aimed at ensuring a more optimistic future for all our communities when it comes to reducing climate change risk.”

Today, 13 October 2020 is the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction as celebrated by the United Nations. The theme for this year is Good disaster risk governance and the theme explores how planning will reduce or avoid creating risks.

Karen Shippey, Chief Director for Environmental Sustainability at Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning says the Western Cape Government is committed to acting on the science of Climate Change in the same way it has done for the COVID-19 response.

“Swift, early, bold responses saw us manage the COVID pandemic well in the Western Cape Province, and the same can be true for climate change. This is why we are revising our Climate Change Response Strategy and developing an 2050 Emissions Pathway in order to provide the roadmap for the next decade, which is pivotal in putting the brakes on the rapidly evolving disaster which is Climate Change.”

Emission Reduction Priorities will focus on the following sectors – energy, transport, waste, industry, agriculture and carbon sinks, where Resilience will focus on infrastructure, disaster management response, resources conservation, agriculture and food security, biodiversity and coastal management and healthy communities. 

“Now is not the time for talk, now is the time for action…But, most importantly, any actions we take must have been developed with creating a just transition at the forefront of our minds every step of the way,” says Shippey.

COVID-19 and the climate emergency have shown that we need clear vision, plans and empowered institutions acting on scientific evidence for the public good.

#ItsAllAboutGovernance #DRRday