Ramaphosa decries natural disasters during climate symposium

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the significance of the Climate Resilience Symposium amid various natural disasters affecting the country.

Speaking at the National Treasury’s Climate Resilience Symposium in Pretoria, he stressed the need for government funding for the country’s energy transition.

Ramaphosa noted that Eskom has maintained power supply for over 100 days without rolling blackouts and attributed the inclement weather in the Cape to climate change.

“This climate resilience symposium is taking place at a time when we are witnessing, first hand almost, our extreme vulnerability to the impact of changing climate, around our own country and in our sub-region. The storms that have hit parts of the Western Cape over the past week have caused enormous devastation to homes, communities, businesses, and infrastructure,” said Ramaphosa.

He highlighted the impact of climate change on the economy, particularly the shipping industry. Winter storms along the country’s coasts disrupted shipping operations, leading to a temporary suspension of ship movement by Transnet.

“These adverse weather conditions temporarily brought container ship traffic to a complete halt at the Port of Cape Town when we could least afford it. Rough seas resulted in cargo vessels losing containers overboard and others being extensively damaged. The Port of Cape Town is the country’s second-largest container terminal, and this weather impact has been quite negative for us,” Ramaphosa added.

VIDEO | Ramaphosa officially opens the National Treasury Climate Resilience Symposium 2024

Climate Resilience Symposium

The objective of the #climatesymposium2024 includes improving government coordination by mainstreaming climate change considerations into the intergovernmental fiscal system. pic.twitter.com/TktOyUlIp5

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) July 15, 2024

His Excellency the President, Minister of Electricity and Energy, Mr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr David Masondo together with National Treasury Executives at the Climate Resilience Symposium. #ClimateSymposium2024 pic.twitter.com/YKi75TByoP

— National Treasury RSA (@Treasury_RSA) July 15, 2024

The National Treasury has gathered government officials, the private sector, international guests and climate experts for the 3 day 2024 Climate Resilience Symposium underway at the CSIR Convention Centre in Pretoria #ClimateSymposium2024 #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/N4v5MjnnwG

— Katlego Legodi (@KatlegoLegodi_) July 15, 2024