YOUTH, CIVIL SOCIETY AND AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN CAPE TOWN ARE MARCHING FOR SYSTEM CHANGE THIS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY WITH THE THEME OF DON’T GAS AFRICA
16 March 2023
On 21 March, 2023 in line with Human Rights day and in solidarity with the global climate strike, youth, civil society and affected communities will march for system change with the theme of “Don’t Gas Africa” – in collaboration with the Don’t Gas Africa campaign.
In September 2022, the first March for System Change took place in Cape Town. The march aimed to address the need for energy, water, housing and food access for all, and to address the interlinking crises of income inequality, climate crisis, water and food insecurity.
This year, the March for System Change continues with that intention, now including a thematic approach with each march.
For this march, the theme will be “Don’t Gas Africa” to highlight the campaign led by African civil society to ensure that Africa is not locked into fossil gas production. According to Don’t Gas Africa, fossil-fuel-induced energy apartheid in Africa has left 600 million Africans without access to modern clean renewable energy. South Africa is no stranger to this. At the same time in May 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) concluded that expanding fossil fuel exploration must end and that no new natural gas fields were needed beyond those already under development. That if we are to remain below the 2°C limit and prevent catastrophic climate change, no more than one-third of proven reserves of fossil fuels can be consumed prior to 2050.
The likes of the successful court case against Shell’s seismic surveys have shown the impact that gas exploration alone can have on communities, small-scale fisherfolk and South Africa at large. “Scaling up cost-effective, clean, decentralized, renewable energy is the fastest and best way to end energy exclusion and meet the needs of Africa’s people,” says Dean Bhebhe who works on the Don’t Gas Africa campaign. “We are calling for a transformative, people-led process involving rapid social, economic and political change to achieve energy democracy and deliver renewable energy assets into the hands of people and communities across the continent.”
Gabriel Klaasen from the African Climate Alliance says that South Africa has a duty to lead in this transition: “South Africa has the opportunity to be a leading force for change in Africa. As the biggest emitters on the continent we owe it to the planet, people, and future generations.”
The action is organised by a group of civil society organisations including African Climate Alliance, Project 90 by 2030, Extinction Rebellion Cape Town, Greenpeace volunteers Cape Town, Feed the Future, 350Africa, Environmental Monitoring Group and The Green Connection.
The group will be following up on previous demands with the addition of a demand that the South African government abandon all exploration for fossil fuels, and specifically gas, both offshore and on land. “We want to see investment in cost-effective, cleaner, decentralised and renewable energy instead,” says Klaasen.
The March will begin at 10:00am starting at Hanover Street (10 Darling Street Parking Lot), to parliament where demands will be handed over, after which the crowd will march back and disperse at Hanover street in a show of unity.
The Demands
Abandon all exploration for fossil fuels and specifically gas both offshore and on land; halt all new fossil fuel related projects; and invest in cost-effective, clean, decentralised and renewable energy instead.
Urgently establish a PERMANENT Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on the Climate and Ecological Crisis that meets once per quarter, to enable parliament to fully address the grave threat that the Climate and Ecological Crisis poses to our society in a way that will remedy South Africa’s deep social inequality through economic reform.
The Department of Basic Education must adjust the National Education Curriculum to improve national literacy in Climate Change that focuses on adequately preparing youth for the realities of the climate crisis.
In accordance with section 234 of the South African constitution, Parliament must table a motion to consider and debate the adoption of the Climate Justice Charter which aims to “end hunger, thirst, pollution and climate harms”.
End all public and private capital investment in fossil fuel-intensive industries.
Commit to eliminating all fossil fuel electricity production by 2035 and take a leadership role in the rollout of renewable energy across the African continent.
Transform the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy which currently acts as the biggest stumbling block to a just transition in the country.
For more information or media queries contact Sarah Robyn Farrell at sarah@africanclimatealliance.org or +27 83 409 5557
