South Africa: Climate changes has economic growth opportunities

Decisions to stop the impact of climate change - the effect of Greenhouse Gas emissions - will not only help the environment, but add to the growth of the South African economy, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the minister of environmental affairs and tourism said.

Van Schalkwyk was speaking at the opening of the Institute of Environmental and Recreation Management in Port Elizabeth today.

"Achieving our 2013 additional renewable energy target of 10 000 giga watt hours, for instance, could have a positive impact on GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of more than R1 billion, lead to additional government revenue of R299 million, additional income to low income households of R128 million, and water savings of up to 16.5 million km per year - at the same time creating just over 20 000 new jobs," he said.

Costs of not acting affects climate
New technologies and skills acquired from developing nations will be the major contributors to this economic growth. But for that to happen, Van Schalkwyk said, decisions need to be taken and implemented today. Already the costs of not acting to effects of climate change are estimated to be around 1.5% of the GDP.

"Amongst the many focal areas for action are our needs to improve our capabilities for Earth observation and climate monitoring; bolstering our disaster management capacity to deal with extreme weather events; implementing initiatives to conserve fresh water supplies; and extensive further research into minimising the likely impacts on agriculture.

"In other words - do we simply strengthen our existing crops to make them more resilient or do we need to switch what is planted from apples to grapes and olives for instance? Where will our future grazing land be situated? How do we avert the predicted reduction of up to 20% in maize crop yields? These are the questions that must shape our response," Van Schalkwyk said.

South Africa will host two national conferences on climate changes in Gauteng in October.

Source: www.sabcnews.com