“The Paris Agreement has reshaped the world’s future”, French Ambassador to South Africa David Martinon said, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the legally binding international treaty on climate change.
The event, co-organised by the European Union (EU) Delegation and the French Embassy, reviewed global, EU and South African climate action progress and milestones achieved towards implementing the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Titled “People Powering Climate Action: 10 Years of the Paris Agreement in South Africa”, the event showcased the agreement’s role as a catalyst for climate action and highlighted its relevance for future generations.
“Ten years ago, the world realised there was no Planet B and chose to take a collective leap of faith, to believe that the nations could act together to achieve a liveable planet,” Martinon said.
The Paris Agreement was signed at the end of 2015’s COP21 United Nations climate change talks, with agreement from 195 countries.
Since the agreement was signed, global greenhouse gas emissions have slowed significantly, with global warming on track to reach 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels instead of the 4°C increase that was projected.
“The EU is keeping its word on its climate ambition – its emissions have diminished by nearly 40% since 1990 and now represent only 6% of global emissions,” said Deputy Ambassador of the European Union Delegation, Fulgencio Garrido Ruiz. The economic bloc was on track to reach its target to cut emissions by 55% from a 1990 benchmark by 2030, he said.
“Just a few days ago, the EU and its Member States have agreed that our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement would range between 66% and 72%. Our direction is clear: full climate neutrality by 2050,” he added.
South Africa remains committed to the Paris Agreement, and is on track to meet its 2025 and 2030 NDC commitments, said Sandra Motshwanedi, of South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
“The Paris Agreement has proven to be our best hope for addressing the climate crisis,” she said.
Motshwanedi urged delegates to remember the urgency of taking action, in accordance with the best available science, that reflects the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities in the light of different national circumstances.
It is estimated that South Africa needs R334-billion to R535-billion in annual investment to meet its climate goals and transition from coal to renewable energy, green hydrogen and electric vehicles.
Garrido Ruiz said the EU was “doubling down on global partnerships” and would remain the world’s largest climate finance provider. The bloc would mobilise up to €300-billion to support the clean transition worldwide through its Global Gateway Investment Programme. It was turning its collective agreement to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 into a reality through concrete projects.
“By 2030, the EU-Africa Green Energy Initiative will bring electricity to at least 100-million people, supported by €3.4-billion in EU grants. These investments are not only about energy, they are about dignity, opportunity and the right to development. Our strategic partnership with South Africa illustrates it more than anywhere else,” he said.
In South Africa, the EU was rolling out investments in renewable energy, clean technologies, minerals, logistics and transport or municipal support of the country’s Just Energy Transition. It was also facilitating the scale-up of private investments by working to create a more enabling business environment and improving its regulatory cooperation to give greater predictability and security to market players, Garrido Ruiz said.
Recognising that young South Africans face the intersecting challenges of climate change, unemployment and inequality, the event placed special emphasis on their contributions to the fight against climate change.
Young people wanted and needed to be included in conversations on climate action, and for this to happen climate change messages needed to be disseminated in plain, easily understandable language that addressed their particular concerns, said Lehlohonolo Jack from the South African Institute of International Affairs’ Youth Programme.
Jack also said a key challenge for the youth was climate change project sustainability.