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The Congress of the People would like to warn the Zuma administration of the imminent danger facing our economy if we do not act now to deal with global warming and climate change. We believe that South Africa as an activist state should not wait for the G20 resolutions and promises before developing and implementing progressive policies that will deal with this irreversible challenge.

The government's ecological neglect that is increasing the erosion of South Africa's biodiversity will result in an addition to the woes of the country's ailing economy in the medium to long term. The Congress of the People is not alarmist in fore-warning the government in this regard.

While we acknowledge that government should prioritise on the bread and butter issues to service and develop our people, it is equally important to recognise and speedily act on this grave disaster waiting to happen if and when government does not implement pragmatic solutions focusing on climate change and global warming.

The implications on our economy are immense if government will not heed this call now. The Congress of the People believes that job creation is an economic development imperative; however the promise of decent jobs will not be sustainable considering the dying fish in our acidified oceans caused by the emissions of greenhouse gases. This will negatively impact on the livelihoods of fishing communities and lead to the loss of very promised jobs.

COPE urges the Minister of National Planning through the commission to champion the green revolution that South Africa needs now and we encourage the Ministers of Environment, Rural Development and Land Affairs, Water and Forestry to come to the party in prioritising action against global warming and climate change.

"We should not be arguing about clinging to untenable technologies to preserve our ailing economy when we are almost about to lose our climate, biodiversity, natural capital, coastal regions, agriculture and our future", said Hilda Ndude, COPE MP and spokesperson on Environment.

COPE notes that the desertification of South Africa as more than 90% arid, semi-arid or sub-humid leaving the country with less than 10% to be economically productive is alarming according to UN Environment Programme classification. This does not auger well with the Congress of the People, considering that currently South Africa is a net food importer and the country is experiencing the worst droughts in as many years.

To safeguard South Africa's future prosperity, the Congress of the People proposed to the following to the government:

1. To promote, support and develop desalination plants
2. To make the use of solar geysers mandatory for households and businesses while subsidising poor households
3. To give considerable support to South Africa's 1st manufactured electrical motor vehicle
4. To reduce the price of the photovoltaic systems
5. To set up a wind turbine plant
6. To develop legislation for green housing and building development

The Congress of the People believe that the political will of the ruling party will save us all from this mighty boulder that is about to tumble in our direction, which will destroy our country's billions worth of biodiversity. Our dependence and reliance on fossil fuels and ignorance of the need to use alternative and renewable energy sources will ultimately be fatal to both the environment and the economy.