The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal says that the province’s extreme weather is a warning to step up climate action.
This was according to the portfolio committee on forestry, fisheries and environment DA member Hannah Shameema Winkler, on Friday.
Winkler said that in the aftermath of the significant flooding and landspout that hit Durban earlier this week, the DA called on Minister Barbara Creecy and the Department of Forestry and Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to step up on its climate action commitments and prioritise the processing of the Climate Change Bill.
“The severe flooding in KwaZulu-Natal in April 2022, as well as the latest extreme weather event this week, once again underscore the urgent need for decisive climate action. It exposes the vulnerabilities of our municipalities to climate-related shocks, a reality that needs to be urgently addressed in our national legislation,” Winkler said.
“The current Climate Change Bill will provide an opportunity to address pressing issues of adaptation and resilience at the municipal level.”
“The Climate Change Bill must ensure that our municipalities are well equipped and empowered to adapt to the changing climate. This includes effective disaster management planning, local infrastructure development to withstand extreme weather events, and the introduction of sustainable, climate-resilient practices at the local level,” Winkler said.
“Furthermore, we must accelerate our national climate action. We are witnessing the impacts of climate change now, not in a distant future, and our response should mirror this urgency.”
On Thursday, Minister Creecy said that the Climate Change Bill, once passed into law, would ensure a legal framework was in place for integrating climate resilience planning and resourcing at all levels of government.