KwaZulu-Natal Premier Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli delivered the opening remarks at the two-day Climate Change Workshop held at the Archie Gumede Conference Centre in Mayville on Friday, 15 August 2025.

The workshop brings together key stakeholders, including Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka, Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer, Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga, mayors, councillors, climate change experts, academics, business leaders, traditional leaders, and senior government officials.

Focusing on developing actionable plans and strengthening partnerships, the sessions aim to advance KwaZulu-Natal’s climate and sustainability objectives. Climate experts at the workshop highlighted the province’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, noting that between 1980 and 2023, KwaZulu-Natal experienced 49 floods and 33 storms.

Premier Ntuli emphasised that climate change is not a distant threat but a present and urgent challenge that demands collective responsibility from governments, the private sector, academia, civil society, and communities. He called for decisive action to transition towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy, stressing that inaction would cost far more in lives, livelihoods, and economic stability than the investments needed today.

Reflecting on his participation in Climate Change Week in New York in 2024, the Premier urged delegates to act with urgency, forge strong partnerships, and move beyond words to implement practical solutions. He reaffirmed that KwaZulu-Natal has the capacity, leadership, and determination to be a champion in the fight against climate change.

Premier Ntuli concluded by calling for the workshop to be a platform for measurable impact, where collaboration and shared commitment lead to tangible improvements in the environment, the economy, and the quality of life for future generations.