SOUTH AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY MONTHLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 PRETORIA 002569 DEPT FOR OES AND AF/S DEPT PASS EPA/OIA SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV SOCI ETRD SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY MONTHLY BRIEFINGS, NOVEMBER, 2009 PRETORIA 00002569 001.2 OF 004 ¶1. (U) Summary: This is the South African Environment, Science and Technology Monthly Briefings Newsletter, November 2009, Volume 4, Number 11, prepared by the U.S. Embassy Pretoria, South Africa. Topics of the newsletter: -- SA Accelerates Preparations for Copenhagen -- 2010 World Cup Could Leave Behind Big Carbon Footprint -- SKA Hosting Chances Boosted for South Africa -- Companies in South Africa Too Slow to Cash in on CDM -- Rescue Robot that Goes Anywhere -- Tsitsikama Wind Project to Kick-Start Green Energy Source -- SA Passes Law to Regulate the Use of Coastal Resources -- State to Re-Introduce Environmental Courts -- MONTHLY FACTOID -------------- SA Accelerates Preparations for Copenhagen -------------- ¶2. (U) In preparation for the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, South Africa is embarking on several programs aimed at making sure that the country contributes positively to the debate on global warming. Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor said, "Ad hoc working groups on the Kyoto Protocol and on the Long-term Cooperation Action have prepared South Africa's position papers for the negotiations at Copenhagen in December 2009 and the post 2012 negotiations". She said various stakeholders were being consulted on the position. Speaking at a media briefing by the Economic Sectors and Employment cluster Program of Action, Pandor noted that work was underway on the so-called green jobs to identify new employment and industrial opportunities. A task team has been established to develop the green jobs proposals and coordinate various government initiatives. Proposals were being developed for the domestic manufacture of solar water heating geysers. Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica has also emphasized South Africa's willingness to contribute to global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as the country prepares for the Copenhagen summit. (BuaNews, November 10, 2009) -------------- 2010 World Cup Could Leave Behind Big Carbon Footprint -------------- ¶3. (U) A study commissioned by the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs (DWEA) concluded that the 2010 World Cup will leave a carbon footprint nearly nine times that of Germany in 2006, before even calculating the footprint for international flights to South Africa. The study was conducted by Swedish consultants and the Norwegian Embassy, financed by the Norwegian government. According to the study, the event is expected to send 896,661 tons of global-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, with international travel contributing another 1,856,589 tons, costing between $5.4 million and $9 million for carbon offset projects to counter the effect of the carbon output. The huge carbon output is largely attributed to the size of South Africa compared to Germany and therefore the distances players, officials and fans will have to travel between matches. ¶4. (U) South Africa's relatively unsophisticated transport infrastructure is also blamed. The lack of fast trains means most people will fly between cities, notching up large amounts of CO2. Most people would travel by carbon-heavy car or bus within cities, rather than light trains as in Germany. If international transport Qrather than light trains as in Germany. If international transport is taken into account, the footprint will be 2,753,250 tons. The study stated that proposed greening measures "would only affect the smaller components of the carbon footprint", because they deal only with emissions from stadium and precinct energy use, and intra-city transport, only about 9 percent of the domestic carbon footprint. (The Star, November 26, 2009) -------------- SKA Hosting Chances Boosted for South Africa -------------- PRETORIA 00002569 002.2 OF 004 ¶5. (U) South Africa's chances of winning the bid to have the world's most powerful radio telescope built in the Northern Cape could be bolstered if it seals a partnership agreement with an oil-rich Arab country. Qatar has expressed interest in throwing its weight behind South Africa's bid to become the host country for the square kilometer array (SKA) telescope, a giant telescope that will comprise about 3000 antennas. The telescope, about 50 to 100 times more sensitive than any other radio telescope on earth, will be able to probe the edges of the universe, helping scientists to understand fundamental questions about astronomy, physics and cosmology. Scientists will use the SKA to go back in time to explore the origins of the first galaxies, stars and planets. South Africa and Australia are the only two bidders left in the running to host the telescope. ¶6. (U) The announcement of the winning bidder will be made in 2012. The Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor, who attended a world innovation summit for education in Qatar's capital, Doha in November, confirmed the country's interest in the project. She said Qatar was "very keen" to become an associate country. The discussions have now reached a fairly firm proposal stage. Pandor said South Africa had been looking for international partners, "because the greater expanse of satellite access and frequency you have, the better in terms of your bid". South Africa also has eight other African countries on board. -------------- Companies in South Africa Too Slow to Cash in on CDM -------------- ¶7. (U) Companies around the world are hunting for investments in developing countries to improve their carbon profiles, but South Africa has been slow to cash in. Fewer than 20 South African projects are registered under the international Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as potential providers of certified carbon offset credits for the mainly European based companies that are obliged by their governments to meet carbon emission reduction targets. According to Peet Du Plooy of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), only three of those companies have issued actual certificates. Du Plooy and players in the carbon market said South Africa was lagging behind India and China because of the expense and complexity of getting projects certified as "green", and because of lack of incentives for renewable energy. He said revenue from selling carbon credits under the CDM would not by itself guarantee a project's financial viability. The CDM was set up under the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions, aimed at fighting the threat of global climate change. For South African companies, achieving carbon neutrality is still voluntary, but this could change after the Copenhagen climate change conference. (Sunday Times, November 21, 2009) -------------- Rescue Robot that Goes Anywhere -------------- ¶8. (U) A search robot capable of going into concealed areas that firefighters and rescue teams cannot enter, was unveiled in Durban in mid November. "We are very happy with what we have achieved so far and we want to improve it so that it can give far better results", KwaZulu-Natal University mechanical engineering lecturer Riaan Stopforth told reporters about the prototype. "We decided to QRiaan Stopforth told reporters about the prototype. "We decided to design this robot because of rescuers' lives lost during rescue operations". The robot, described by the eThekwini (Durban) Municipality's fire department as "impressive", weighs 56kg and will be able to transmit video information before firefighters start their rescue operations. Its development began three years ago. It can travel over very rough ground using wheels that move inside metal belts, like those on a tank, and can also be used during search and rescue operations in mines. Stopforth said it would help save time and lives, as many hours were lost when rescuers could not enter a building due to unsafe conditions. "More than 300 firefighters died at the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks in 2001. Rescuers often enter areas that have unstable structures not knowing that there are no people to rescue". Sixty-five of the more than 300 firefighters at the World Trade Center died because they searched in confined spaces which flooded. Stopforth said the research team was trying to make sure the robot was able to operate near fires. Stopforth also added that "Problems identified at the World Trade Center were that the robots' traction systems malfunctioned, and some were either large or not easily maneuverable". (The Star, November 17, 2009) -------------- PRETORIA 00002569 003.2 OF 004 Tsitsikama Wind Project to Kick-Start Green Energy Source -------------- ¶9. (U) The R1 billion ($1.33 billion) Tsitsikama wind farm project was launched at the end of November, which has moved South Africa another step closer to increasing its production of cleaner and renewable energy. By 2013 the wind farm will produce 40 megawatts of electricity, which will be sold to Eskom. It is the first community-owned project of its kind in the country. The Tsitsikama community in the Eastern Cape owns the 7,000ha of land to be used as the site of the wind farm, which has the potential to produce 10,000MW of energy. The community will hold at least a 10 percent share in the project. Other key shareholders are Exxaro Resources, Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas, the Danish Export Credit Fund, the Danish Industrialization Fund for Developing Countries, Dong Energy a Danish energy company, European Energy and Eastern Cape Community Wind Energy. The latter is a non-governmental organization that was formed to involve the community and educate them about renewable energy and its benefits. About 46 percent of the project will be owned by black economic empowerment partners. An environmental impact assessment is under way and the feasibility studies have also begun. ¶10. (U) Sufficient wind for electricity generation must run at 5m per second. Feasibility studies show that the wind is averaging 6.5m per second at the site. Chief Director at Department of Energy David Mahuma said the government was reviewing its renewable energy strategy beyond 2013. He added that, "In South Africa, we are one of the world's 20 leading polluters and projects like these show our seriousness as a country to move towards cleaner energy". There will be 20 turbines installed in Tsitsikama. Grid connection estimations are that it would not cost less than R100 million ($13.33 million). Tsitsikama is a poverty-stricken area which does not have electricity, and the community's closest school is at least 25km away. Thobile Makamba, the chairperson of the Tsitsikama Community Trust, said the income generated by the wind farm would be used to deliver infrastructure that was not available in the area, such as building schools and health facilities. (Business Report, December 1, 2009) -------------- SA Passes Law to Regulate the Use of Coastal Resources -------------- ¶11. (U) The Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Act, dedicated to managing coastlines in an integrated manner and ensuring the sustainable use of the coast's natural resources, came into effect on December 1, 2009. The ICM Act, the first legal instrument of its kind in South Africa, offers a new approach to managing the activities of people in the coastal zone. It seeks to preserve, protect, extend and enhance the status of coastal public property as being held in trust by government on behalf of all South Africans, including future generations; secure equitable access to the opportunities and benefits of coastal public property; and give effect to South Africa's obligations in terms of international law regarding coastal management and the marine environment. Previously, the value of South Africa's coastline and its ecosystems was not sufficiently acknowledged in decision-making in South Qwas not sufficiently acknowledged in decision-making in South Africa. The direct benefits obtained from coastal "goods and services" was estimated in 1998 to be about R168 billion annually, which was equivalent to about 35 percent of the annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, much of the wealth locked up in the coast continues to be wasted due to environmentally insensitive development and poor decision-making. The Act is based on a national vision for the coast, which includes the socially justified sharing of benefits derived from a resource-rich coastal area, without compromising the ability of future generations to access those benefits. (BuaNews 30, 2009) -------------- State to Re-Introduce Environmental Courts -------------- ¶12. (U) The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs (DWEA) Buyelwa Sonjica announced that the re-established environmental courts, which aim to improve the prosecution of environmental crimes, are expected to be up and running in the next six months. She said the establishment of dedicated courts, with dedicated prosecutors will have a profound impact on the fight against environmental crimes. Sonjica said that a meeting between the Minister of Justice Jeff Radebe and her in September 2009 resulted in the decision to move forward with the process in order to address PRETORIA 00002569 004.2 OF 004 the challenges experienced in enforcing the environmental laws. The Minister emphasized they would be up and running in six months or earlier. However, she cautioned that it might be a challenge to find skilled people to run them. Sonjica explained that DWEA would not be building new court buildings but would look at utilizing existing ones for environmental crimes. "We are going to use the existing ones in a creative way to locate time dedicated for environmental crimes," she said. ¶13. (U) DWEA's recently released National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report, revealed that the total number of cases in which the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute increased from 16 in 2007/08 to 100 in 2008/09 and the number of convictions decreased from 748 in 2007/08 to 258 in 2008/09. The total number of admission of guilt fines issued nearly doubled, from R744,706 in 2007/08 to R 1,446,709 in 2008/09 with the number of acquittals also decreasing from 441 in 2007/08 to 18 in 2008/09. Sonjica attributed the decline in prosecution to the notion that environmental crimes were not the core function of the NPA hence the need for dedicated courts. The Minister also highlighted the need for a dedicated investigation report on the profiling of environmental crimes. DWEA's Compliance and Enforcement Support Director Mark Jardine said they would also focus on the causes for the fluctuations in the number of reported convictions, acquittals and decisions not to prosecute and also why some institutions were recording over 200 convictions per year and others nothing. (BuaNews, November 26, 2009) -------------- Monthly Factoid -------------- ¶14. (U) South Africa houses one of the three largest telescopes in the world, the SALT, at Sutherland in the Karoo. www.southafricagoodnews.co.za Gips