While the decision by the US to withdraw from the Paris Agreement is a blow for South Africa, there are also new opportunities
South African news sources have said that US president Donald Trump’s decision to remove his country from the Paris Agreement will adversely affect global momentum and South Africa’s ability to source funding from the US.
On the other hand, it also presents an opportunity for South Africa to innovate and become a leader, as the most industrialised country in Africa – setting the tone and pace for Just Energy Transition (JET).
South Africa’s minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment, Dr Dion George, expressed disappointment over Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement a week ago.
“Americans have a pressing moral obligation, not only to lead in reducing emissions, but to support developing economies in contributing to the global effort, and to provide support to poor countries experiencing the impacts of climate change,” George told the media.
He reiterated South Africa’s commitment to the realisation of the goals set out in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement.
“We must, and will, seize this moment to innovate and drive forward sustainable solutions,” George noted. ”The global effort to curb climate change and address its impacts cannot be put on hold.”
Nitasha Baijnath-Pillay, Hortgro’s resource management and sustainability manager, recently told Fruitnet that as the world works to reduce emissions, green financing had been developed to encourage carbon emission reductions.
“The South African markets have been very receptive to green agriculture technology and green financing opportunities,” she said. ”As such, many financiers and agricultural organisations are working closely to tailor-make solutions that allow the pome industry to adapt to climate change, weather volatility and supply chain shocks.
”Our producers are aware that as they transition towards the adoption of green technology along our value chain, there are many green financing opportunities available and accessible to them.”
The South African pomefruit industry had a long-term perspective with long term planning, continuous innovation and sufficient investment in research and development, adopting new technologies and best practices, promoting knowledge sharing and capacity building, Baijnath-Pillay outlined.
“Our pome industry is a member of the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA),” she said. ”SIZA facilitates the adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture practices for environmental sustainability as well as compliance with global standards.
”The SIZA standards and audits are aligned with global best practices such as the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) tool and Global Good Agricultural Practice (GAP).”
