Europe, SA in climate talks

Youth, businesses, public authorities, general public given chance to learn from one another

THE exchange of sustainable ideas between European and South African ambassadors began yesterday as part of the 2020 Team Europe Climate Diplomacy Week, to ensure climate change is being tackled at the highest level.

The EU is considered a global leader in tackling climate change due to its innovative ways in which to mitigate the negative impacts of environmental damage which other countries can learn from.

Team Europe Climate Diplomacy Week allows youth, businesses, public authorities and the general public from EU and South Africa to learn new ideas from each other.

EU ambassador Riina Kionka said: “The way one responds to the Covid19 pandemic will not only impact on how many jobs we are able to save but on what jobs will be created for the future.

“The cost of deferring action on climate change will be the Earth’s debt, with interest which will be passed on to the children’s future. We fully agree with President Cyril Ramaphosa who stated in his letter to the nation on August 24 that the coronavirus pandemic is devastating but unless we act now, the impact of climate change on humanity will be catastrophic.”

Kionka said they would eventually find a vaccine for Covid-19, but there is no vaccine for climate change.

Director for strategy at the European Commission’s Directorat for the Environment, Astrid Schomaker, said: “South Africa’s leadership is recognised and we can jointly work towards a green recovery from Covid-19. We have solid evidence the circular economy can assist with job creation. We need to use the Covid-19 crisis as an opportunity to rethink our consumption and production patterns.”

The first day of the online series discussed how the two countries can transition towards a circular economy and create more opportunities.

Shane van der Nest, SA general manager for global food packaging company Huhtamaki and South Africa general manager, said: “We find that influencing the consumer and the way they purchase is important to the longevity of a circular economy.”

Huhtamaki has put aside R17 milllion for South Africa to invest into circular economy opportunities.

The way one responds to the pandemic will impact jobs now and in the future

Riina Kionka

EU AMBASSADOR