Climate Change and Trade: The Challenges for Southern Africa (Oct 2009)
Climate change, in part a result of rising greenhouse gas emissions, is seen as the most pressing environmental problem of our time. The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) marks the first step towards an international response to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. As the Kyoto Protocol comes up for review in 2012, negotiations towards the formulation of its successor are underway and will culminate in a Conference of Parties (COP) meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009 with a view to agree on a more ambitious, inclusive and effective international response. The UNFCCC requires that action on climate change must strike a balance between the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to the impacts of climate change on the environment, economic prosperity and development. However, the negotiation and implementation of such a broad compromise is complex and highly politicised, hence there are a range of unresolved policy questions with various implications for Southern African countries.
In advance of the Copenhagen Summit SAIIA hosted a high-level regional conference in October 2009 to examine these policy options with a specific focus on the tension in the economy-climate policy nexus. The conference’s aim was to highlight key competitive, technological and market issues that African countries need to consider as they head to Copenhagen. In addition, the conference explored how potential policy choices of developed and emerging economies, particularly the largest emitters, will affect Southern African countries; whether the current interplay between trade and climate change regimes is sustainable; what the region’s technology and financing needs are for tackling climate change; and what are the preferred mechanisms for tapping into these resources. Finally, the conference provided insight into how four case-study countries (South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia) are grappling with the potential economic and social impacts of climate change and its potential trade and investment consequences.
Monday, 26 October
09h00-09h30 Registration
09h30-10h00 Welcome and Introduction
Joe Mollo, National Council Member, SAIIA [opening remarks]
10h00-11h20 Setting the Scene
Moderator: Joe Mollo, National Council Member, SAIIA
Presenter: Mr. Soren Asp Mikkelsen, Deputy Head of Mission,
Danish Embassy'50 Days Before Copenhagen: State of Play and How
we Get There' [speech]
Mr. Peter Draper, Head Development through Trade Programme,
SAIIA 'Trade and Climate Change: A view from South Africa'
11h20-11h45 Tea break
11h45-13h00 Session One: Towards Copenhagen: Issues and Opportunities
This session will deal with the politics of climate change and what is
required to move the negotiations forward. The session will also discuss
the potential opportunities that might arise if and when a deal is concluded.
What are the key hurdles the negotiators will have to overcome if they are
to achieve a breakthrough? What role do global coalitions such as the
G77, the Africa Group, the Major Economies Initiative and others play in
shaping the negotiations on climate change? How are key actors
positioning themselves to take advantage of the negotiations? What are the
emerging threats and opportunities concerning trade and investment within
the evolving climate change regimes?
Moderator: John Smith, Head Climate Change Team, British High
Commision
Presenter: Bernice Lee, Research Director, Energy, Environment
and Resource Governance, Chatham House [presentation]
Discussants: Dr. Marco Vieria, Visiting Lecturer in International
Relations, Kings College London
13h00-14h00 Lunch break
14h00-15h15 Session Two: Multilateral Trade Policies and Measures in post-Kyoto
Structures
The international climate change and trade (World Trade Organisation)
regimes have proceeded on parallel lines, yet there may be scope for
integrating the two in post-2012 structures. This session will discuss the
potential linkages between the two regimes, the challenges that climate
change poses for trade policy, and the prospects for fostering linkages
between the two regimes for the purpose of combating the effects of
climate change.
Moderator: Bernice Lee, Research Director, Energy, Environment
and Resurce Governance, Chatham House
Presenter: Prof. Loretta Ferris, University of Cape Town
[presentation]
Discussant: Dr. Brendan Vickers,Senior Researcher:Multilateral
Trade, Institute for Global Dialogue, SA
15h15-15h45 Tea break
15h45-17h30 Session Three: African Issues: Technology Policies and Financing Climate
Change
Technology policies will play a pivotal role in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and Southern Africa must identify its technology needs and
indicate the circumstances under which technology transfer is likely to be
enhanced. Furthermore, the Bali Action Plan calls for improved access to
adequate, predictable and sustainable financial resources as well as
technical support to developing countries to assist with the mitigation of
and adaptation to climate change. This session will explore the region’s
technological needs as well as the challenges to technology transfers,
including trade-related tools and finance.
Moderator: Jorge Maia, Head of Research, IDC
Presenters: Dr. Samantha Gregory, Samantha Gregory Attorneys
[presentation]
Sheila Kiratu, Researcher, SAIIA [presentation]
Discussants: Dr Fariborz Zelli, German Development Institute
17h30-18h30 Cocktail Reception
Tuesday, 27 October
09h30-10h45 Session Four: Projected Impacts of Climate Change on Southern Africa
Based on extensive climate change modelling, this session will highlight
potential climate change impacts on Southern Africa. This sets the scene
for the discussion of how climate change sensitive sectors could affect
vulnerable communities in the case studies presented in session five.
Moderator: Dr. Anthony Turton, University of the Free State
Presenter: Dr Francois Engelbrecht, Head, Atmospheric Modelling
Unit, Natural and Environment, CSIR [if you wish to view this
presentation please send your request to
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]
10h45-11h00 Tea Break
11h00-12h30 Session Five: The Economic and Social Impacts of Climate Change on
selected Southern African Countries – South Africa and Botswana (part1)
This session will highlight the livelihood changes that may be triggered by
climate change in the region. It will discuss the main threats and
opportunities for the region from a country-case perspective; the policy
implications in terms of mitigation, adaptation, technology development
and transfer; financial requirements; capacity building; and the interface
between trade and climate change. Apart from reviewing the individual
country interests and approaches to the negotiations, this session will
highlight key challenges and opportunities for collaboration in the region.
Moderator: Peet du Plooy, Trade and Investment Adviser, World
Wildlife Fund
Presenters: Romy Chevallier, Researcher, SAIIA [presentation]
Victoria Ndzinge, Associate Researcher, BIDPA
[presentation]
Discussant: Solveig Crompton, Policy Analyst, Environment Sector
Trade Development, DEAT
12h30-13h15 Lunch
13h15-14h45 Session Five (part 2): The Economic and Social Impacts of Climate
Change in selected Southern African Countries – Mozambique and
Zambia
Moderator: Dr. Donald Chimanikire, University of Zimbabwe
Presenters: Gilberto Biacuana, Economist, FNB [working paper]
Humphrey Mulemba, Analyst, JCTR [working paper]
Discussant: Hugh Cole, Oxfam GB, Southern Africa
14h45 - 15h45 Discussion of Case Studies
15h45-16h00 Tea break
16h00-17h15 Summary of discussions and recommendations
Moderator: Peter Draper, SAIIA
Presenter: Ivan Mbirimi, Independent Trade Consultant
