Comments on the National Climate Change Response White Paper November 15 2011

1. Comments on the National Climate Change Response White PaperNovember 15 2011

2. Oxfam in South Africa Managing affiliate Oxfam Australia 4implementing affiliates Australia Canada Great Britain Italia (Italy) 3 contributing affiliates Germany Hong Kong Ireland Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty for over 50 years in South Africa Main Concern: Impact of Climate Change on people living in poverty who are most vulnerable, particularly rural communities and women

3. Oxfam in South Africa COP 17 FAB deal “In the world we live in, the bad wolf of climate change has already ransacked the straw house and the house made of sticks, and the inhabitants of both are now knocking on the door of the brick house where the people of the developed world live” Pro Poor African Gender Balanced Our Proposition: Pro-poor, gender balanced African COP17 that moves closer to a FAB deal, particularly contributing to food justice in a resource constrained world.

4. Oxfam in South Africa COP 17 • Four Objectives • The South African government steps out as a global leader on national pro-poor adaptation • South African government runs an inclusive, legitimate COP that contributes to a FAB deal • Individuals and civil society in South Africa are mobilised on three levels: • to influence the domestic agenda • to influence international decision making • raised public awareness and action through movements focussed on the COP this year and food in coming years • African organisations and people speak for themselves, particularly around women’s leadership, representation and participation in processes up to and at COP 17 FAB deal Pro Poor African Gender Balanced

5. Oxfam in South Africa Overall Comments Oxfam welcomes the white paper Better balance between adaptation and mitigation Concrete strategies needed in some areas (adaptation, sectoral plans)

6. Oxfam in South Africa Key Comments Meaningful Participation of vulnerable groups Gender Mainstreaming Stronger Policy on Finance

7. Oxfam in South Africa Participation and Accountability Little to no consultation with vulnerable groups in the white paper process. • More must be done to enable participation of rural communities and women: • Consult with these groups to design meaningful participation • Provide accessible information • Allow adequate time and provide resources to engage (e.g. parliament told us and other partners they didn’t have funds to enable people to participate in these hearings) • Mandate all relevant government departments to adopt the above approach for meaningful engagement in developing sectoral plans. • Clearly identify one lead government department that leads cross-departmental action across government, and engages with civil society on the overall policy.

8. Oxfam in South Africa Gender Mainstreaming Add a principle: Ensuring gender balanced approach • R&D on food production (women are often responsible) • Access to reliable water (often a womens responsibility and key need in the household) • Flagship programmes must be gender balanced

9. Oxfam in South Africa Finance Policies Reliable Sources of Finance International Level – SA must advocate for climate finance Grant based adaptation funding managed through a central Ministry with civil society participation National Level Climate Finance Governance