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2014 National Climate Change Response Dialogue

Event date: 2014-11-10 (All day) to 2014-11-13 (All day)

Introduction and background

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Committee on Climate Change (IGCCC) is organizing a four day national dialogue and conference on South Africa’s National Climate Change Response, focusing on implementation. The title of the conference is: “South Africa is transitioning to a lower carbon and climate resilient economy and society.

The conference took place at Gallagher Convention Centre, in the period 10 – 13 November 2014. 

The 2014 National Climate Change Response Dialogue and Conference is preceded by progress over a period of 10 years in which South Africans participated in:

  • National Conference in 2005 to discuss the potential impact of climate change in South Africa, and to secure a mandate for the development of a national climate change response policy;
  • National Climate Change Summit and Science conference in 2009, to review the latest international and national climate science, and develop the framework for a national climate change response policy
  • National Green Economy Summit in 2010, to build a national consensus on South Africa’s green economy path
  • The preparatory process and South Africa’s hosting of the 17th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Durban in December 2011
  • The discussion, and finalisation of South Africa’s National Climate Change Response Policy in 2011

The conference will be hosted in partnership with key national departments, and in co-ordination with the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Regional Outreach Event on the 5th Assessment Report. The three IPCC Working Groupss are: (a) Working Group I: The Physical Science Basis (b) Working Group II:  Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability and, (c) Working Group III: Mitigation of Climate Change.

Conference objectives 

The overarching vision of the National Climate Change Dialogue is to further develop South Africa’s lower carbon economy and improve its climate resilience.  A common understanding between participants will be developed by presenting South Africa’s climate-related progress since the Durban Platform. The regional outreach by the International Panel of Climate Change is scheduled for the first day.  Presentations by IPCC chapter leads regarding the recently published findings of the latest climate change science of the IPCC 5th Assessment Report will provide the foundation for the national dialogue. 

The conference will provide a dynamic and vibrant space for demonstrating that South Africa is a country in transition to a lower carbon and climate resilient economy. It will provide an opportunity to facilitate discussion and engagement on a number of inter-connected themes that bring scientists, policy-makers and practitioners together to debate topical issues, share innovations and demonstrate best practice. 

The dialogue will be held on a series of in-depth focused session as presented in the diagram below:

The specific objectives are:

  • To facilitate an open dialogue reflecting on the current status and major challenges on the way to a lower-carbon and resilient society.
  • To reinforce a common vision towards a systemic approach of transformation
  • To strengthen the roadmap for implementation & reaching scale
  • To strengthen SA’s position in the international negotiation process in Lima in December 2014, towards conclusion of a new global agreement in Paris 2015

The Conference sessions

Conference Sessions Related documents
Session 1: A vision for 2030

Session 2: Possible transition scenarios for a lower carbon and climate resilient South Africa

Session 3: The journey towards a climate resilient society
 

Session 4: Water-Food-Energy Nexus development

Session 5: Developing a national adaptation response

 

Session 6: Moving towards a low carbon economy

 

Session 7: Using technology and innovation to reduce GHG emissions

 

 

Conference Sessions Related documents
Introductory session to Day 3: Building world-class flagship programmes to lead the transition to a low carbon and climate resilience economy  
Session 8: Financing the response to climate change

Session 9: Building the skills base

 

Session 10: Transition technologies and energy choices for South Africa into the future
 

 

Session 11: Low carbon transport systems for South Africa

 

Session 12: Success and replicability of the REIPPP Programme

 

Session 13: Green growth, trade and competitiveness in South Africa

 

Session 14: Ecosystems and our ecological infrastructure

Session 15: Carbon sinks and carbon sequestration  
Session 16: Water security under a changing climate  
Session 17: Climate change response in South African cities and towns
Session 18: Scaling up green buildings  
Session 19: Increasing resilience and scaling up resilient human settlements
Session 20: The role of waste in the transition to a lower carbon economy  

 

Conference Sessions Related documents
Introductory session to open evening: Green jobs  
Session 21: Using data effectively to track the transition to a low carbon South Africa  

Session 22: Paris 2015 agreement and beyond

 

Session 23: Tracking the transition to a climate resilience society

 

Session 24: Climate information and knowledge management
 

 

Session 25: Stakeholder Engagement on Paris 2015 Agreement and Beyond

 

Presentations

Conference Sessions Related Presentations  
The National Climate Change Response Dialogue 10 - 13 Nov 2014 - The official closing summary of key outcomes 
Overall Messages from the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)
Capacity building for local science and research community (Climate Change)
Working Group I - The physical science basis
IPCC Working Group 2 - Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability
IPCC Working Group 3 - Mitigation of climate change
Session 1: A vision for 2030

Session 2: Possible transition scenarios for a lower carbon and climate resilient South Africa

Session 3: The journey towards a climate resilient society
 

Session 4: Water-Food-Energy Nexus development

Session 5: Developing a national adaptation response

Session 6: Moving towards a low carbon economy

Session 7: Using technology and innovation to reduce GHG emissions

Introductory session to Day 3: Building world-class flagship programmes to lead the transition to a low carbon and climate resilience economy
Session 8: Financing the response to climate change

Session 9: Building the skills base

Session 10: Transition technologies and energy choices for South Africa into the future

Session 11: Low carbon transport systems for South Africa

Session 12: Success and replicability of the REIPPP Programme

Session 13: Green growth, trade and competitiveness in South Africa

Session 14: Ecosystems and our ecological infrastructure

Session 15: Carbon sinks and carbon sequestration
Session 16: Water security under a changing climate  
Session 17: Climate change response in South African cities and towns
Session 18: Scaling up green buildings

 

Session 19: Increasing resilience and scaling up resilient human settlements
Session 20: The role of waste in the transition to a lower carbon economy
Introductory session to open evening: Green jobs  
Session 21: Using data effectively to track the transition to a low carbon South Africa

Session 22: Paris 2015 agreement and beyond

Session 23: Tracking the transition to a climate resilience society

Session 24: Climate information and knowledge management
 

 

Session 25: Stakeholder Engagement on Paris 2015 Agreement and Beyond

 

Exhibition/ Open Dialogue Space on all four days

The 2014 National Climate Change Dialogue makes an open dialogue space available that invites all stakeholders to showcase and exchange on their experience of the transition towards a lower carbon and climate resilient society.  This Open Dialogue space is a combination of showcasing stands and discussion tables, and opportunities for informal meetings.
 
Showcasing stands for the following 4 topics are available:
  • Funding and Investment in Climate Change Response
  • Ecosystem based Adaptation
  • Climate Change and Local Government
  • Climate Change Response Flagships
 
Throughout the 4 days this space is operating and can also be used for smaller side discussion, meetings or exchange. These meetings and discussion rounds are organised by a notice board offering every participant the opportunity to address topics and issues that are not covered in the official program or that he/she wants to elaborate further on.
 
The principal of using this Open Dialog Space will be explained in more detail on day 1 of the National Climate Change Response Dialogue 2014.

On the second day of the conference, 11th November 2014, we are opening the dialogue space and invite you and the broader public to join us for an interactive networking session. From 16h45 -19h00 we are inviting you to participate in the sharing and networking session focusing on Climate Technology and Innovation. This session intends to bring various practitioners and perspectives together to jointly discuss the role and current development of climate technology and innovation on our transition.

On the third day of the conference, 12th November 2014,  we are inviting you to participate in the sharing and networking session focusing Green Skills and South Africa’s youth (16h45 -19h00). This session intends to bring various practitioners as well as young people together to exchange on their experience and discuss future opportunities in the green skills sector.

The open dialogue space is run throughout the conference from the 10th - 13th of November 2014 from 9h00 - 18h00 (the setup of the stands till therefore have to be on Sunday the 9th of November).

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