Climate Change and Oceans: Oceans Day at COP17
Climate Change and Oceans: Oceans Day at COP17
The Global Ocean Forum, together with its partners, held an Oceans Day on December 3rd in Durban. The purpose of the Oceans Day event was to draw high level attention to oceans issues at the climate talks at Conference of Parties17 (COP17), and highlight the importance of linking COP deliberations to the Rio+20 conference. The day-long event drew over 100 participants and deliberations focused on key topics including: Oceans and coasts at the UNFCCC and at Rio+20; Climate change and African fisheries; Action needed on climate change; Progress on major oceans and climate issues; Oceans and climate issues in Small Island Developing States, Progress on major oceans and climate issues; Financing, capacity building and public education for adaptation; and Mobilizing for action on oceans and climate.
At the event the Honourable Deputy Minister of Water and Environment Affairs in South Africa, Mrs. Rejoice Mabudafhasi, emphasised that there is a need to engage local communities living along the coasts. She further suggested that each region should identify a hot spot and channel funds towards these spots along the coast. The delegates from the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) shared their experiences and views on climate change issues in the regions, and vulnerability of SIDS. One of the SIDS panellist, ambassador Dessima Williams, Permanent Mission of Grenada to the UN, and Chair, Alliance of Small Islands States cautioned that “Climate Change is turning a friend and resource (the ocean) into an enemy”, and appealed to the participants to find a way to support the SIDS.
A joint presentation by the African Large Marine Ecosystems (Benguela, Guinea, Canary and Agulhas and Somali Currents) gave an overview on climate issues in the African Large Marine Ecosystems. A blue print for ocean and coastal sustainability (a summary for decision makers) was also shared and discussed at the meeting. The blue print for oceans and coastal sustainability can be downloaded from www.unesco.org/new/en/rio20 and “provides context for the Rio+20 discussions, through analysis of current challenges in ocean and coastal management around the world”. Other climate-related ocean and coastal issues discussed by the participants included sea level rise, ocean acidification, subsidization of foreign fishing companies, curbing air pollution, blue carbon, fish farming communities, amongst other things.
The oceans day ended on a very key and memorable note, when four children handed over a SEA pledge, appealing to decision-makers to take the necessary steps towards addressing climate change issues to ensure a sustainable future for all.
The participants all agreed that there is a need for urgent action to address the issues of change in our oceans and coastal ecosystem, and a collective effort is therefore required to take the issue further, and ensure that decision-makers recognise, acknowledge and address the impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable (e.g. the SIDS).
Positive developments at the local level at COP17
While high-level decision-makers are locked in heated discussions at the COP17 in Durban, some stronger commitments to climate change adaptation have been made by cities from around the world. The following press release by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, describes the birth of the Durban Adaptation Charter on December 4th, 2011.
Cities from across the world make historic commitment to climate adaptation action
DURBAN/South Africa – History was made today as 114 mayors and other elected local leaders representing over 950 local governments from around the world, came together in the signing of the Durban Adaptation Charter, a political commitment to strengthen local resilience to climate change.
The event, entitled the Durban Local Government Convention: adapting to a changing climate – towards COP17/ CMP7 and beyond, ran in parallel to the UNFCCC COP17/CMP7 and drew over 700 delegates to the eThekwini City Hall, from 2-4 December. The Durban Local Government Convention was organised by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, South African Local Government Association (SALGA), South African Cities Network (SACN) and eThekwini Municipality.
After intense deliberations in Durban‟s Council Chambers, governors from around the world moved, as proposed by the mayor of Kisumu, Kenya, and seconded by Lagos State, to unanimously adopt the Durban Adaptation Charter. Mayors, Governors and Chairs of local government associations from as far afield as Bangkok, Thailand, to Vancouver, Canada, from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Quito, Ecuador, joined with those from 24 other countries in making this ground-breaking local government commitment towards urgent,
decisive measurable, reportable and verifiable (MRV) climate commitments.
Through national associations, large numbers of local governments from Tanzania, Norway, Namibia, Mauritius, Nigeria and South Africa are also joined in supporting this Charter. By signing the Charter, local governments have committed to unprecedented levels of local climate action to:
• mainstream adaptation as a key informant of all local government development planning
• ensure that adaptation strategies are aligned with mitigation strategies
• promote the use of adaptation that recognizes the needs of vulnerable communities and ensure sustainable local economic development
• prioritize the role of functioning ecosystems as core municipal green infrastructure
• seek innovative funding mechanisms, etc.
Durban‟s Mayor, James Nxumalo, who led the signing of the Charter, stated: "Local governments from around the world made history today by committing themselves to enhanced adaptation action through their signing of the Durban Adaptation Charter. The Charter is a clear indication that the impacts of climate change can only be addressed through development that promotes human welfare, ensures ecosystem integrity and promotes a new greener economy. It is appropriate that this challenge was taken up on African soil, given the vulnerability of our continent to climate change impacts; and in Durban, a city that has become a leader in the field of climate change adaptation." Mayor Nxumalo has been designated by the signatories to present the Durban Adaptation Charter to the high level segment of the UNFCCC COP17/CMP7.
A growing international recognition of local governments as critical actors in the global climate agenda was testified by the participation of many distinguished panelists including, inter alia: Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; six South African Government Ministers; and the South African President, HE Jacob Zuma, who declared: “Municipalities in the developing world must not wait for surprise flooding, extreme drought or fires – we need to start investigating today for a safer tomorrow by prioritizing the establishment of disaster management structures across all spheres of government.” President Zuma wished local government delegates fruitful deliberations and stressed the global significance and strategic timing of the event.
By committing to the Durban Adaptation Charter, cities have further demonstrated their political will to address climate change, pledging to enhance their local adaptive capacity and engender greater resilience in the face of escalating climate change. This was emphasized by the ICLEI President, David Cadman, Deputy Mayor of Vancouver in Canada, who stated that “this commitment from local and sub-national governments compliments the "Global Cities Covenant on Climate – the Mexico City Pact‟, led by Mayor Marcelo Ebrard from Mexico City, through which they measure, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions reductions, climate mitigation and adaptation commitment and actions. This Pact, together with the momentous Durban Adaptation Charter, spearheads collective and decisive local action at a point in history where, sadly, there is no credible indication that our nations are able to reach a global deal at COP17. Our cities cannot wait for the COP Parties. We are at the tipping point of winning or losing the battle against climate change and we, the governments closest to the people, know we need to take collective action now.”
Durban Local Government Convention Declaration: www.iclei.org/africa
Local Government Climate Roadmap: www.iclei.org/climate-roadmap