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The National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reduction Plan (ERP) Stakeholder Consultation
The sustainability of the agricultural sector in South Africa is threatened by various economic and social pressures, including population growth, fluctuating markets, and the impacts of climate change. These concerns were highlighted during the National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reduction Plan (ERP) Stakeholder Consultation for the Agricultural Sector, which took place in Kimberley, Northern Cape.
The purpose of this stakeholder consultation was to equip participants and share ideas among all role players, with the goal of reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the country. The consultation also aimed to underscore how climate change poses a serious threat to society, leading to significant disruptions such as increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and higher mortality rates associated with climate incidents (IPCC, 2014). Breakaway sessions allowed stakeholders to engage in thematic group discussions on topics such as livestock management, crop management, natural resource management and the importance of renewable energy. Northern Cape is the eighth province to be visited before the team concludes the stakeholder consultation in Limpopo later this month.
Other presentations conducted, included:
- An introduction to the ERP Project by the Department of Agriculture
- A context-setting presentation by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), which outlined the 9th National GHG Inventory for the Agricultural Sector, including the processes, data collection methods, and methodologies used
- Presentation of the sectoral emissions targets for the agricultural sector by the DFFE
- An introduction to the ERP in the agricultural sector by the Agricultural Research Council