Media Statement

20 September 2022

*PREMIER DUBE-NCUBE JOINS GLOBAL LEADERS FOR THE UNDER2 COALITION GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CLIMATE WEEK NYC 2022*

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube who is leading the provincial government delegation is proud to be joining leading states, regions and other sub-nationals at the Under2 Coalition General Assembly, being held during the Climate Week NYC.

Taking place from 19-25 September, the General Assembly is the annual meeting of Under2 Coalition member states, regions, provinces and other sub-nationals, it brings together global leaders to share knowledge and first-hand experiences of climate action, and to challenge the international community to increase its ambitions and efforts to mitigate climate change.

Climate Week NYC is also a platform for the Africa Region to play a leading role in implementing concrete climate change interventions and to encourage other states to join the coalition and advocate for the net zero emissions target by 2050 without leaving anyone behind.

Premier Dube-Ncube, who is also the Co-Chair of the Under2 Coalition representing the Africa Region, is joined by MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Mr Siboniso Duma.

Speaking on the sidelines of the General Assembly, Premier Dube-Ncube said: “On the agenda is a chance for all of us as leaders, together with other sectors of society to share our global outlook on climate change and climate action. The increased prevalence of natural disasters and weather-related catastrophes such as the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal which claimed the lives of over 450 people compels us to intensify our work on mitigating the effect of climate change, including budgeting and mainstreaming, research, education and building resilient infrastructure.”

“As KwaZulu-Natal, we will use our privileged position of regional leadership of the Under2 Coalition to share best practice, learn and mobilise more support towards climate change programmes. The call on the collective action and partnership of all stakeholders (government, labour, private sector, civil society) should be the driving force in mitigating against the impact of climate change.

This is in line with the South African government’s approach of the District Development Model which calls for an ‘all of government and all of society approach' which advocates for integrated and responsive planning to fast-track development. We also call on business to partner with government in combatting the impact of climate change for the survival of business and society at large,” concluded Premier Dube-Ncube.

Members of the media are invited to follow the New York Climate Week deliberations, activities and latest news updates on https://media.climateweeknyc.org/en/media/home.html

Ends

Issued by the Provincial Government Communications on behalf of the Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube

For more information contact KZN Premier Media Liaison Gugu Sisilana on 082 889 3474