PRESENTATION ON THE GOVERNMENT’S DRAFT CLIMATE CHANGE GREEN PAPER 16 th March 2011

Timberwatch is pleased that things appear to be moving forward in developing a national strategy to address climate change however, what appears to be missing is a meaningful action plan

The present draft green paper has described the problem and identified many needs however, it draws heavily on unproven solutions that in some cases will actually worsen climate change

 “Clean Coal technology”  Carbon capture & storage  Unsafe nuclear energy  Carbon trading and CDM whilst real solutions that can be easily implemented are not prioritised

Organic agriculture Public transport Better town planning Reducing overconsumption Targeted energy/carbon taxes Renewable solar energy Decentralised energy grid Landscape restoration

The above have been well covered by other NGOs, but Timberwatch has identified two critical flaws in the draft CC GP The use of the LTMS pie-charts that distort energy-use sectors incorrect information in respect of forestry in mitigation

The 70 % allocated to “energy industries” must be transferred to the actual end users, mainly mining and manufacturing. It seems large energy users like smelters that are the real climate change culprits are conveniently left out of the picture.

Is a green economy possible?

Tree plantations are not forests. They are a part of an industrial production process that destroys natural vegetation, consumes huge amounts of water, causes soil erosion, displaces communities, and feeds wasteful consumption!

The information provided in the section on “forestry” in the draft CC GP is mostly inaccurate and therefore misleading. It seems that this section could have been prepared by the timber industry rather than the Department!

Last word – Eskom must not be allowed to build the planned Kusile power station when so many climate-friendly alternatives are available!

Community based forest restoration and ecological agriculture needs much more government support