SADC Ministerial Meeting May 2011

Posted by swallenoeffer on May 18, 2011

The SADC Ministers for Environment and Natural Resources will convene for their annual meeting in Windhoek, Namibia from 23-26 May 2011. Part of the agenda will be discussions on the issue of climate change as well as the preparations for the upcoming UNFCCC COP17 in Durban, South Africa. For further information, please see the Press Statement.

PRESS STATEMENT

MEETING OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

1. SADC Ministers responsible for environment and natural resources management met on 26 May 2011 in Windhoek, Namibia. The main objective of the meeting was to review progress in the implementation of programmes in the sector and prepare for the 17^th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 17).
2. The meeting was attended by 13 SADC Member States.  Ministers from Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe were in attendance, while the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia were represented by their Ambassador and High Commissioner, respectively. Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Seychelles and Swaziland were represented by Senior Officers. The meeting was officially opened by the Right Honourable Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, Mr. Marco Hausiku. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Minister of Environment and Tourism of Namibia.
3. Ministers noted that Climate change continues to be a threat to livelihoods and ecosystems of SADC. Impacts of climate change are already being felt in SADC Member States, which are experiencing high frequency of droughts, floods, cyclones and sea level rise. The impacts are more severe on rural communities due to their heavy reliance on natural resources and rain-fed agriculture.
4. Ministers deliberated on the next round of negotiations, the 17^th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 17), which will take place from 28^th November to 9 December 2011 in Durban, South Africa. They re-affirmed their solidarity and unprecedented desire to use the UNFCCC COP 17 to press for an outcome that reflects the African priorities. Ministers reaffirmed their resolve to maintain adaptation as a priority for the region.  Ministers called on all SADC Member States to work together and speak with one voice in order to influence the outcome of this Conference.
5. Noting that no consensus was reached on the legally binding commitments on Green House Gas emissions beyond 2012 at the COP 16 in Cancun Mexico, Ministers resolved to press for a second legally binding commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol to ensure that there is no gap between the first and second commitment periods. They unequivocally expressed their resolve to support South Africa in hosting the UNFCCC COP 17 and ensure that the event is successful.
6. Ministers underscored the importance of implementing Multilateral Environmental Agreements in utilising and managing the environment and natural resources sustainably.  To this end, Ministers noted the ten-year Strategic and Action Plan for Biodiversity adopted in 2010 at the 10^th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Action Plan aims at halting the loss of the Planet’s rich biodiversity and to restore ecosystems. Ministers called on SADC Member States to support the United Nations’ Decade on Biodiversity.
7. Ministers noted the persistent challenge in ivory trade as other countries still continue to maintain a ban on the one-off sales of government owned  ivory every 9 years. Ministers also noted that at the 15^th Conference of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 2010, the request from the Region to lift the ban on the sale of ivory stockpiles was not supported. Ministers called on SADC Member States to continue with their unity and advance their request at future Conferences.
8. Ministers approved a new programme on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) aimed at improving policy and legal frameworks as well as capacity required to address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.  The project will also facilitate Member States to benefit from the carbon markets.
9. Finally, Ministers thanked the Government and the people of the Republic of Namibia for hosting the meeting and for the warm hospitality accorded to them and their delegations. 

Done at Windhoek, Namibia, this 26^th day of May 2011

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