Speech

SESSION OF AMCEN BY ACTING DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM, MS NOSIPHO JEZILE 07 JUNE 2008, SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE

Director of the African Union Commission
Representative of the NEPAD Secretariat
Director of the United Nations Environment Programme
Distinguished Delegates
All protocols observed

It is for me a great honour to welcome you on behalf of the Government of South Africa to the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg to the 12th Session of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN)

Africa has been plagued by rising levels of poverty and deepening environmental degradation. It is the poorest region of the world with the largest share of people living on less than US $1 per day. Almost 40% of the people in Africa live below the poverty line and at least one-third of Africa’s population is undernourished with this number growing daily. It is the only region of the world where poverty is projected to rise during this century if adequate measures are not urgently taken. Of the 45 countries on the UNDP’s list of Low Human Development Indicators, 35 are in Africa and two-thirds of the 48 countries included in the list of Least Developed Countries are in Africa

The African Environment Outlook also highlights that:

1. Africa is the continent most vulnerable to climate variability and climate change.
2. Our biological resources are declining rapidly as a result of habitat loss, over-harvesting of selected resources, and illegal activities.
3. Coastal and marine habitats and resources in Africa are under threat
4. We have the fastest rate of deforestation anywhere in the world. In addition to its ecological impacts, deforestation also means definitive loss of vital resources causing communities to lose their livelihoods and vital energy sources.
5. Lack of availability and low quality of freshwater are the two most limiting factors for development in Africa, constraining food production and industrial activities, and contributing significantly to the burden of disease.
6. Degradation of soil and of vegetation resources is largely a result of increasing population pressures, inequitable land access and tenure policies, poor land management, and widespread poverty.
7. Africa is the region with some of the highest rates of urbanization in the world.

AMCEN must play the crucial role of leading policy dialogues and initiatives on addressing the environmental challenges and climate change impacts in Africa. AMCEN has given guidance in respect of key political events related to the environment, including multilateral environmental agreements and must continue to do so in an amplified manner. It has also led the process for the development of the action plan for the Environment Initiative of NEPAD and must enhance its implementation. The 12th Session of AMCEN should be used as a platform to strengthen AMCEN’s role as the strategic voice of Africa on African environmental issues.

The challenges facing delegates as we begin this 12th Session of AMCEN is not in crafting eloquent “Declarations” but laying the building blocks that will put us further ahead on the path of what was captured by our leaders namely:
“a common vision and a firm and shared conviction, to eradicate poverty and to place our countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development, and at the same time to participate actively in the world economy and body politic.”

There is a famous Kenyan proverb which states: “The world was not given to you by your parents, it was lent to you by your children”. It is my wish that we bear this in mind as we begin this 12th Session of AMCEN.

For those who may say that the challenges facing Africa are just too great I am reminded of a Malagasy proverb which states that “People are like plants in the wind: they bow down and rise up again”.

With these few words I once again would like bid you all a warm welcome and wish you every success with the deliberations.

 “Let’s make it happen. Let’s create a better life for all our people on the African continent.”

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