President Ramaphosa stel Agri SA-verteenwoordiger aan by Presidensiële Klimaatkommissie | President Ramaphosa appoints Agri SA representative to Presidential Climate Commission

English to follow:

7 November 2022

Agri SA verwelkom president Cyril Ramaphosa se aanstelling van Janse Rabie, Agri SA se hoof: Regs- en Beleidsake in die Presidensiële Klimaatkommissie. Hierdie belangrike liggaam het ‘n sentrale rol om te speel, aangesien Suid-Afrika werk om aan te pas by klimaatsverandering en die uitwerking en oorsake van daarvan te versag. Met die landbou as een van die sektore wat die meeste deur hierdie verskynsel geraak word, is die aanstelling van ’n verteenwoordiger vir die sektor ’n belangrike stap ter bevordering van die konsensus wat benodig word om die uitdagings wat vir ons voorlê doeltreffend aan te spreek.

Die aankondiging is gemaak met die aanvang van die 27ste Konferensie van die Partye van die Verenigde Nasies se raamwerkkonvensie oor klimaatsverandering – COP27 – vandeesweek in Egipte.

Suid-Afrika is ’n lid van die Verenigde Nasies se raamwerkkonvensie vir klimaatverandering (UNFCCC) en die Parys ooreenkoms. Die Presidensiële Klimaatkommissie is geskep om die billike oorgang na ’n lae-koolstof en klimaatveerkragtige ekonomie te koördineer en toesig daaroor te hou, soos voorsien deur die konvensie en internasionale ooreenkoms.

Die landbousektor is onlosmaaklik gekoppel aan die natuurlike omgewing. Dit beïnvloed, en word ook beïnvloed deur, klimaatswisselvalligheid en verandering. Belangrike werk word gedoen om die oorsake en gevolge van klimaatsverandering aan te spreek, met inbegrip van die Wetsontwerp op Klimaatsverandering wat tans voor die parlement dien. Die landbousektor moet ’n integrale rol speel namate Suid-Afrika op ‘n sinvolle en doeltreffende wyse op die groeiende bedreiging reageer.

Terwyl klimaatverandering risiko’s inhou vir Suid-Afrika, bied dit ook groot geleenthede vir innovering en plaaslike oplossings in die landbousektor en elders. Agri SA het deurgaans voorspraak gemaak vir die insluiting van meer verteenwoordigers van die landbousektor, wat noodsaaklik is indien Suid-Afrika ’n holistiese benadering tot die oorgang wil ontwikkel wat nuwe geleenthede vir jong Suid-Afrikaners oor alle ekonomiese sektore heen sal skep.

Benewens sy rol as Regs- en Beleidshoof by Agri SA, is Janse Rabie (48) ook die organisasie se hoof van natuurlike hulpbronne. Hy is as prokureur gekwalifiseer en het ‘n meestersgraad in mariene en omgewingsreg van die Universiteit van Kaapstad. Sedert hy in 2017 by Agri SA aangesluit het, was hy instrumenteel daarin om die belangrikheid van die landbousektor se kritiese verhouding met, en afhanklikheid van, die natuurlike omgewing te verhoog.

“Niemand woon nader aan, maak meer staat op, of word meer deur die klimaat en ons natuurlike omgewing geraak as ons boere nie. Ek sien daarna uit om die perspektiewe en ervaring van Agri SA en die landbousektor te bring na die belangrike werk wat tans deur die Presidensiële Klimaatkommissie verrig word,” het mnr Rabie gesê.

“Voedselsekerheid in Suid-Afrika sal in die komende jare afhang van ons vermoë om ’n volhoubare omgewing vir boerdery te handhaaf. Ons sien dus uit daarna om met ander sektore van die ekonomie en die samelewing as geheel saam te werk ten einde ’n veerkragtige en voorspoedige land vir toekomstige geslagte te skep.”

Medianavrae:

Christo van der Rheede

Agri SA, Uitvoerende Direkteur

Janse Rabie

Agri SA Regs- en Beleidshoof asook Hoof van Natuurlike Hulpbronne

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 7 November 2022

Agri SA welcomes the appointment of Janse Rabie, the Legal and Policy Executive at Agri SA to the Presidential Climate Commission by President Ramaphosa. This important body has a central role to play as South Africa works to adapt to and mitigate the effects and causes of climate change. With the agricultural sector amongst the most affected by this phenomenon, the appointment to the commission of a representative for the sector is an important step in building the consensus we need to effectively address the challenges before us.

The announcement comes as the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – COP27 – gets underway in Egypt this week.

South Africa is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, and the Presidential Climate Commission was established to coordinate and oversee the just transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy, as envisioned under this Convention and international agreement.

The agricultural sector is inextricably linked to the natural environment. It both affects and is affected by, climate volatility and change. There is significant work taking place to address the causes and effects of climate change, including the Climate Change Bill which is currently moving through parliament, and the agricultural sector must play an integral role as South Africa formulates a coherent and effective response to the growing threat.

While climate change poses risks for South Africa, it also presents great opportunities for innovation and homegrown solutions in the agricultural sector and beyond. Agri SA has been steadfast in its appeal for the inclusion of more representatives from the agricultural sector, a necessity if South Africa is going to develop a holistic approach to the just transition that creates new opportunities for young South Africans across all sectors of the economy.

In addition to his role as Legal and Policy Executive at Agri SA, Janse Rabie (48) is also the organisation’s Head of Natural Resources. An attorney by training, he holds a Master of Laws degree in marine and environmental law from the University of Cape Town. Since joining Agri SA in 2017, he has been instrumental in elevating the importance of the agricultural sector’s vital relationship with, and reliance on, the natural environment.

“No one lives closer to, relies more upon, or is more affected by the climate and our natural environment than our farmers. I look forward to bringing the perspectives and experience of Agri SA and the agricultural sector to the important work currently being performed by the Presidential Climate Commission,” said Mr Rabie

“South Africa’s food security in coming years will depend on our ability to maintain a sustainable environment for farming. We, therefore, look forward to working with other sections of the economy and of society to ensure that we make progress towards the goal of creating a resilient and prosperous country for generations to come.”

Media Enquiries:

Christo van der Rheede

Agri SA, Executive Director

Janse Rabie

Agri SA Legal and Policy Executive and Head Natural Resources