MEDIA ALERT: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MADIBA, ACTION AND JUSTICE IN THE JUST TRANSITION

PRESIDENTIAL CLIMATE COMMISSION CALLS FOR ACTION AND JUSTICE IN THE TRANSITION TOWARDS A NET-ZERO AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT ECONOMY AND SOCIETY, 18 JULY 2023

As the world marks the 13th episode and anniversary of International Nelson Mandela Day and the commemorative decade since his mortal demise, the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), has called on all of society to embrace the notion of a just transition as a foundational principle for moving our country development agenda in s sustainable way.

“At the core of just transition, is the African value of Ubuntu as espoused by Tata Mandela. As we celebrate this year led by the Nelson Mandela Foundation with the support of all social partners, we believe that the eternal monument we can dedicate to Mandela is the acceleration of action in addressing the real, clear, and present danger of climate change impacts on our societies and our development goals” said Dr Crispian Olver, PCC Executive Director addressing the 67CEOs Forums’7th Annual Nelson Mandela Summit, held today.

“We remember Tata Mandela for his founding of the Elders: a group of global leaders including former US President Jimmy Carter and former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, to forge solutions to global problems, with its priority being climate justice beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by ensuring the protection of most vulnerable to the climate change’s impacts”.

Mandela Day 2023 encourages all of us to plant trees and food gardens, distribute food and clothing symbolizing an active fight against climate change as a practical approach to overcoming food insecurity and hunger in our communities. Today, we call upon all of us to heed the call and make a difference in our communities, and strive for an equal, peaceful, and sustainable world where no one is in need.

Catastrophic weather events including the drought in the Eastern Cape and Free State in 2019, the water crisis in Cape Town and Gqeberha as well as the devastating floods in KwaZulu- Natal, have all demonstrated how poor communities remain in coal face, bearing the devastating impacts of climate change and once again reinforced the need to develop ambitious, bold, and immediate actions which as the commission has repeatedly called for.

Today, we can say that these events have brought to light the crisis affecting the most vulnerable communities. Let us use this day to catalyze change, by acting on the global issues of climate change and food insecurity, and by responding practically to the plight of the displaced and the hungry.

As we look towards developing and leading a climate change agenda that speaks to the challenges and realities of our nation and the developing nations, we call upon the developed nations to meet carry out their responsibility and meet their development, trade, and investment commitments in ensuring a just transition driven by mitigation and adaptation development pathways to choose for ourselves.

The commission congratulates the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the millions of South Africans and citizens of the world in marking this historic day in honor of Madiba.

Issued by Presidential Climate Commission

For media enquiries, contact: Blessing Manale, Head of Communications and Outreach blessing@climatecomission.org.za +27 73 036 5381.