Climate Change South Africa

Save the Earth - It's the only planet with...Chocolate!

CLIMATE CHANGE PETITION TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

We are concerned about the effects of climate change. The earth is getting hotter because of the high amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are being released into the atmosphere. This global warming is causing climate changes that threaten human and other life forms (e.g. high rate of extinction of plants and animals; increase in droughts, floods, tidal waves, hurricanes and diseases).

Southern Africa will be hit particularly hard, and the poor will suffer the most. By international standards, South Africa has a very high level of GHG emissions per capita. Most of South Africa\%u2019s GHG emissions are in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is released when making electricity and fuel from coal, and burning fuel (oil/petrol). The industrial sector is by far the biggest electricity-user and it emits other GHGs. Personal transport is a high CO2-emitter, followed by residential, then agricultural and commercial energy.

WE CALL ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT TO URGENTLY:

- Identify the ways in which South Africa is contributing to climate change and plan to reduce this in a manner that is sustainable and environmentally friendly.

- Commit to reducing carbon dioxide emissions to ensure there will be less than a 2є C rise in global warming (ie: maintain GHG levels below 400ppm CO2 equivalent).

- Set targets of 10\% reduction of 2000 levels of CO2 by 2015; and 75\%reduction of 1990 levels by 2050.

- Reduce the number of nuclear and coal-fired power stations.

- Achieve these goals through energy efficiency, energy-efficient technology, and the use of environmentally friendly renewable energy.

- Set renewable energy targets of 15\% of our electricity-generation by 2015. Develop renewable energy with the aim of it becoming our primary source of energy as soon as possible.

- Initiate and enforce laws, regulations, incentives, penalties and education that attain the above goals.

- Research and target the primary GHG-producers.



FROM EARTHLIFE AFRICA CAPE TOWN AND CONCERNED CITIZENS.