Dec 02 2009
South Africa, Agriculture, Agribusiness and Climate Change
South Africa faces many major challenges, one of which is to face up to the reality of climate change. As countries are seeking to meet in Copenhagen and negotiate binding climate change targets, the contribution that agricultural production makes to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions is increasingly coming under scrutiny. There is therefore a clear need to find cost-effective ways to address agricultural emissions. This needs to be done in a way that does not compromise other objectives, such as food security, competitiveness and poverty alleviation. At the same time, climate change will have significant impacts on agriculture and agribusiness, calling for an effective adaptation strategy in addition to mitigation policies. The negative effects of global warming, such as heat waves, storms, floods, changes to rainfall pattern, water availability in water-stressed areas and soil degradation, have potentially major implications for life essentials like food, water, land and the environment.
Agribusiness is committed to playing its role in addressing these major challenges, and many companies in South Africa and worldwide have already taken considerable action. In the ABC’s view, the respective and relevant Portfolio Committees can and should play an important role in developing understanding of the complexity and scope of the challenge, fostering dialogue, ensuring thorough analysis on climate change mitigation and adaptation options and formulating fact-based policy recommendations.
This is an excerpt from the Agricultural Business Chamber presentation to the portfolio committee in Parliament on the agribusinesses’ position on climate change. The presentation is available for download on the ABC website
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