Progress Report on Climate Change Interventions in Water and Sanitation

1. Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation Progress report on climate change interventions 11 November 2015 PRESENTATION TITLE Presented by: Name Surname Directorate Date

2. Interventions • Implementation of the strategy has commenced • Water conservation and demand management • The implementation guidelines for the water sector, and policy position on water are being developed • Awareness raising is ongoing • Risk and vulnerability assessment in the Vaal, and Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma • From the World Water Week to COP21 • Concluding remarks

3. Implementation of the National Climate Change Response Strategy for the Water Sector • The Minister approved the Strategy, now widely communicated to all regional officials in satellite offices (All Provinces) and key sectors. • The strategy, • provides a comprehensive response to climate change impacts • maps out requisite interventions • guides on how to mainstream climate change strategies into water management and use under a changing climate • For instance, the Dept. of Environment is currently using the Strategy as a resource to advance the next phase of the Water Conservation and Demand Management Flagship Programme

4. The Strategy used in the Water Conservation & Demand Management Flagship Programme • DWS will collaborate with DEA on their project that emanates from the flagship programme. The intent is to: • Support and promote water use efficiency and demand management at utility and local government scale • Improve efficiency in water reticulation systems (& water infrastructure) • Provide capacity building within the local government sphere to support the implementation of a WC/WDM programme • Develop an awareness campaign • Develop an appropriate implementation plan based on needs of the 6 climate zones and local authorities • All these interventions are from the strategy

5. Development of implementation guidelines • DWS is currently developing guidelines for use by the regions or satellite offices of the Department • To roll out (i.e. implement) the strategy • To develop own response plans and interventions • There has already been a national workshop in this regard with regions (workshop was held on 29 Sept 2015) • DWS is currently developing a policy position on climate change (Dialogue was held on 22-23 Oct 2015) • Other Departments and research institutions were invited to share experiences and to comment on the Department’s strategy and the draft policy document

6. Awareness through workshops & presentations • This year we organised a workshop on Climate Change Strategy implementation • Where experts were invite to share their knowledgeand skills on how to adapt to climate change, manage and use water sustainably in light of a changing climate • The DWS presented the strategy • As part of awareness raising on climate related issues • Various presentations were made on water development, planning, management of water under a changing climate (e.g. on technologies for adaptation to researchers, role of communities to JHB North ward committee leaders, and on food & water security under a changing climate to Emerging Farmers – Gauteng Dept. of Agriculture)

7. Risk and Vulnerability assessment in selected areas (hydro-climatic zones) • We undertook risk & vulnerability assessment in the Vaal and Uzimvubu-Tsitsikamma hydro-climatic zones • Study rainfall patterns, frequency and intensity as well as temperature changes • Investigate water availability, management and use and identify challenges and opportunities. NOTE: • Non-climatic challenges may render systems vulnerable to climate change impacts

8. Risk and Vulnerability assessment in the Vaal • Some of the challenges water pollution related • Raw sewerage often overflows into the stream close by due to spilling and poorly maintained infrastructure in towns such as Ermelo, Bethal and Villiers. For example, Stream Sewerage spills Sewerage flowing into the stream in Ermelo

9. Risk and Vulnerability assessment in the Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma • This zone suffered impacts of drought in the past decades markedly driven by El Nino events, hence it’s characterised by highly erodible soils, with created deep gullies Bush encroachment and gully erosion in Ngqushwa District, Eastern Cape

10. From the WWW in Sweden to COP21 in France • The 2015 Stockholm World Water Week (WWW) • themed Water for Development • 3,300 delegates from 125 countries, participated • Our Minister, of Water and Sanitation led the South African water sector delegation and participated in various engagements including Water, the COP21 event : Partners incl. SIWI, WWC, WEF, AMCOW, WB, Govt of Peru, France, Sweden, Netherlands, RSA, etc. • Catalyze global leaders’ attention to the crucial role of water in CC • The world water week then discussed how to address water in the global climate discourse by more specifically debating how to raise the agenda of adaptation and water at COP21 • Bilateral discussions between partners and other regarding a concerted effort to get water onto the agenda as a standalone agenda item is ongoing – leading to COP21

11. Concluding remarks • The mainstreaming of climate change strategies into water management (implementation) continues • Studies aimed at understanding water/climate related challenges (vulnerability assessments) are crucial to inform appropriate action (interventions) • Awareness raising among communities and other sectors is part of the rolling out of the strategy • The climate change policy position is also about to be completed • The Minister of DWS is the champion for “enhancing the profile of water on the COP agenda”

12. Thank You