Contents

Climate change series

The Eskom News journey: COP17-CMP7

1- What is COP17, and what does it have to

do with me?

2- Eskom’s climate change commitment –

the six-point plan

3- COP17: The countdown begins!- Eskom and COP17: Renewable and

energy efficiency platforms

4- Back to the basics of climate change

5- Eskom is proud and privileged to be as-

sociated with COP17/CMP7- The launch of the COP17/CMP7 internal

communications campaign

6- Tips to conserve water, manage waste,

and save energy

7-8- How is Eskom rising to the climate

change challenge?

9-10- COP17 – looking back, going forward

Contents

Page one Page two

COP17 takes place in Durban.

What is COP17, and what does it have to do with me?First of all, it has nothing

to do with criminal law enforcement and, secondly,

it has everything to do with you … especially if you

are an Eskom Guardian. To understand the COP17

we need to create context and explain a pile of

acronyms.

A number of years ago the UNFCCC (Unit-ed Nations Frame-work Convention for Climate Change)

was convened as countries all over the world realised that there had to be a coordinated response to the crisis of climate change. The objectives were to stabilise and reduce greenhouse gas emissions so that the earth could adapt naturally. Timeframes were also set within which these targets were to be reached.

This resulted in the Kyoto protocol – a legally binding system of achieving these targets. There were two major problems though: firstly, the US - the biggest polluter at the time – did not ratify the protocol, which significantly weakened the effort. Secondly, there was the question of how to enforce the targets and how to penalise countries that did not conform.

The COP (Conference of the Parties) is a meeting of the signatories of the UNFCCC. The COP meets every year for a two week negotiating session where the nuts and bolts of combating climate change through the provisions made in the UNFCCC and the Kyoto protocol are discussed. This year COP will convene for the 17th

time, hence COP17. The most fantastic thing about the

whole COP initiative is that the entire process is consensual. Everyone must agree on everything. Unlike the Security Council of the UN, certain bigger countries can’t bully smaller countries into accepting their resolutions. In COP every country has a veto.

More recently the issue of targets and penalties has become more complex because of the disparity in the wealth and status of countries, where some “emerging developing countries” like ourselves, Brazil, China and India are expected to take on targets – not to mention that the US still needs to commit to targets.

This has resulted in an all too familiar divide between developed countries and developing countries. These two blocks meet prior to the COP meetings to make sure they reach consensus as a block and thus have a strong case to make at COP. It goes further than that: within each country consensus has to be reached among its own regions. For example the nine provinces in

South Africa need to reach consensus, then SA has to reach consensus with other Southern African countries, then consensus must be reached on the continent, before consensus is reached in the Developing Nations block. However, bear in mind that these compromises do not have to honoured – each country still has a veto right and can refuse to sign an agreement at the end of the COP. So by the time COP convenes a lot of compromising has taken place and the net result is that decisions are taking a very long time to be made and enforced. And when it comes to climate change a very long time is the one thing we don’t have.

Now, let’s revisit the opening statement: how does this affect me?

For a start COP17 is taking place in Durban in December this year and while it is not the World Cup it is going to be an event that will attract massive international attention. South Africa has been a key and proactive player in COP and the UNFCCC and we should be proud of the efforts our leaders and scientists are putting in. Eskom, as a major emitter of greenhouse gases has been supporting government initiatives in combating climate change by reducing our carbon footprint. Eskom forms part of the delegation to these UNFCCC negotiations. Internally we have set up a steering committee for COP17 and are working at both national and international levels

through our government networks, business networks and partnerships. The Eskom steering committee is organised as per the diagram below.

As part of the work under the Business Initiatives platform, a CEO forum has been established and is co-chaired by Brian Dames as well as the chief executives of Sasol and Implats, David Constable and David Brown, respectively. The objectives of the forum include constructively engaging with government to ensure that policy decisions taken are workable, supporting our government in ensuring that COP17 is a successful event and showcasing our achievements.

During the course of the year, the steering committee will be communicating all of their activities within the platforms to the business and will be assisted by Corporate Affairs in this regard. As an Eskom employee you already know how important it is to ensure our power supply is sustainable and environmentally responsible. Now you also know that there is a global plan and where we fit into it.

As an Eskom guardian, YOU can contribute to reducing our impact on climate change by saving energy in both the workplace and home. Together, we CAN make a difference!

If you want to know more about climate change activities, or if you want to find out how you can contribute to COP17, please contact Lwandle Mqadi at MqadiL@eskom.co.za.

Eskom’s climate change commitment – the six-point plan

South Africa is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and

the Kyoto Protocol. South Africa is a developing country and, as a result, has no obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is in-country commitment to continuing development in a sustainable manner that results in benefit to the economy, society, and the environment. South Africa is, therefore, supportive of an approach that embraces this balance, called “Sustainable Development Policies and Measures”.

The approach supports the fact that South Africa must contribute to global efforts to combat climate change, while ensuring the sustainability of our economy and society. Eskom is fully supportive of this approach and has itself been active in the climate change discussions since the early 1990s. Eskom’s climate change strategy unpacks our commitment to this challenge in a six-point plan.

The six-point planI. Diversification of the generation mix to lower-carbon-emitting technologiesII. Energy efficiency measures to

reduce demand and greenhouse gas and other emissions

III. Adaptation to the negative impacts

of climate changeIV. Innovation through research, demonstration, and developmentV. Investment through carbon market mechanisms

VI. Progress through advocacy, partnerships,

and collaboration

1. Diversification of the generation mix to lower-carbon-emitting technologiesWe continuously model energy options for achieving conflicting goals in the most optimum manner. Every technology has both positive and negative aspects. We acknowledge that there is no silver bullet and that we need all the options to make the real deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Although the tons of CO2 we emit will increase in the short to medium term, we are committed to assessing options to retard that rate of increase and, ultimately, begin to decrease it by reducing the coal in the energy mix.

Our goal is to reduce coal from the current 88% to 70% by 2025 and even further reductions beyond that. Our capital expansion plan provides a significant opportunity to change our energy mix, and this can be achieved by increases in the nuclear, gas, renewables, and hydro components. Plans include increasing the nuclear component by up to 20 000 MW by 2025 and an increase in the renewables component to at least 1 600 MW by 2025. Other supply-side mitigation options include clean coal technologies. Already these are being applied to the new coal-fired power stations under construction. We are currently developing technology road maps to underpin these choices.

In the longer term, our current plant will reach the end of its life and be replaced with more advanced and less-carbon-emitting technologies, further changing our energy mix and carbon intensity.

2. Energy efficiency measures to reduce demand and greenhouse gas and other emissionsThe primary short-term focus is on energy efficiency measures, as they can be implemented quickly and result in measurable reductions. Eskom has led the way with our internal energy efficiency programme, which seeks to save a billion kilowatt-hours. In addition, we work with our consumers to reduce their demand. This programme will build on existing successes to significantly reduce future emissions through a nationwide deployment. The short-term target is to save 3 000 MW over the next six years and 8 000 MW by 2025. In reality, this equates to about two six-pack coal-fired power stations.

3. Adaptation to the negative impacts of climate changeEskom accepts that global initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions will take many

decades. As such, the negative impacts of climate change will become a reality to which we must adapt in order to sustain our business. Adaptation risks in South Africa include an increased number and severity of droughts and floods, human settlement and, thus, infrastructure movements, and risks to staff and customers. Short-term adaptation measures include the consideration of dry-cooling at our new power stations, thus reducing water consumption by approximately 90%. The trade-off is an efficiency loss. Medium- to long-term considerations include improving the resilience of our infrastructure and staff by incorporating adaptation issues into long-term planning and risk mitigation strategies. This requires modelling of impacts and the development of robust strategies that will reduce the overall cost of adaptation and minimise operational disruptions.

4. Innovation through research, demonstration, and developmentResearch is the key platform for the development and deployment of new carbon-reducing technologies that will result in real cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in the long term.

Eskom has a proud record of cutting-edge research and development, which do not duplicate, but rather build on, fundamental research programmes. We anticipated the need for lower-carbon technologies and initiated a number of projects aimed at capitalising on our inherent strengths, building local capacity and associated industries, and optimised for local conditions. Eskom has a number of exciting pilot projects that will achieve this aim, including:• an underground coal gasification

pilot, which can improve efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and possibly provide a mechanism for the sequestration of CO2;

• a System Johansson Gasifier biomass pilot for small-scale applications;

• the pebble-bed modular reactor, which is an inherently safe, modular nuclear technology; and

• a 100 MW solar thermal plant, which may overcome the barrier of intermittency and generate a local industry.

Road maps on other clean technologies have also been developed to guide our research and optimise our resources.

5. Investment through carbon market mechanisms

Eskom remains supportive of the carbon market, and we are keen to see policy certainty post 2012 for a long-term global carbon market. The carbon market is an essential mechanism for levelling the playing field by making technologies more accessible and, in turn, inviting sustainable investment in developing countries. We currently participate in the CDM mechanism and view it as a good vehicle for bridging some of the cost gaps, as well as the wide-scale deployment of low-carbon-emitting technologies. Eskom uses a shadow price for carbon to evaluate all investment decisions and to level the playing field across a variety of technologies.

6. Progress through advocacy, partnerships, and collaboration

Eskom’s response to climate change is supportive of Government’s activities, and we interact with various Government departments on this issue.

We are active members of the National Committee on Climate Change and participate in the Long-term Mitigation Scenario process.

Internationally, Eskom interfaces with leading global organisations that address various aspects of climate change such as emissions trading, policy directions, post-2012 scenarios, ground-breaking research, and business collaboration. Organisations include the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the International Emissions Trading Association, Combating Climate Change (3C), the Global Roundtable on Climate Change, the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, the Coal Industry Advisory Board, EPRI, the International Energy Agency, the International Chamber of Commerce, and the World Economic Forum, to name a few. The breadth of this involvement ensures that Eskom continuously benchmarks itself and also provides appropriate influence and advice, where necessary.

The road aheadAll of these initiatives contribute to our overall climate change strategy, which is holistic and takes into consideration the many challenges we are currently facing. We have modelled the potential contribution of demand- and supply-side initiatives to the future reduction of CO2 emissions. Some possible future scenarios are illustrated in the figure below. The graph indicates the CO2 reduction potential from a baseline with a high percentage of coal in the mix (88%). The wedges indicate the potential contribution of emission reduction by various technologies. Eskom’s overall CO2 emissions will increase over the medium term, but the pace of increase will be reduced with the diversification of our mix. The introduction of additional nuclear plants will be the main contributor.

We are confident that significant progress has been and will continue to be made by Eskom in meeting the challenge of climate change. Opportunities and risks have been identified and are being proactively managed.

Our strategy will continue to evolve over time and is flexible enough to accommodate the uncertain policy environment we face. Climate change is a very high priority in Eskom and will continue to be integrated into the many facets of our business.

Let’s take a look at what Eskom is doing ahead of

COP17.

Wind and solar energy to diversify Eskom’s energy mix.

Underground coal gasification pilot project can reduce environmental impacts.

Eskom’s energy efficiency measures can be quickly implemented and result in measurable reductions

Page three Page four

Last month, we introduced you to the COP17

Programme, the 17th COP- 7th CMP, and what you can do about

it. We also revisited Eskom’s climate change commitment – the Six-Point Plan – to outline

how Eskom is tackling the issue of climate change. In

this edition, we will focus on renewable energy and

energy efficiency whilst providing you with some

basic facts on climate change.

South Africa will be hosting the United Nations Framework Convention’s 17th Conference of the Parties and Meeting of the

Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP17-CMP 7) in Durban from 29 November to 9 December 2011. Through delivery of renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives, Eskom aspires to join Government in showcasing its commitment to a low carbon future for the country. As such, an energy efficiency and renewable energy platform has been established within Eskom’s COP17 programme.

The primary objective of the platform is to identify energy efficiency initiatives and renewable energy opportunities in addition to Eskom’s existing achievements, and to accelerate the implementation of such schemes.

Energy efficiency1. Mass roll-out programme of solar

water heaters (SWH) and energy efficient lighting (i.e. CFLs).

2. Eskom internal energy efficiency projects.

3. Stakeholder engagements and communications on energy savings i.e. energy passports for hotels, exhibitions at COP17, the 49M movement, tours to showcase energy efficiency programmes.

4. Joint venture with Growth Point on a rooftop photovoltaic installation with real-time monitoring and video feed.

5. Addressing energy efficiency in the hospitality sector (especially hotels and conference venues).

6. Use of photovoltaics to power Nedbank ATMs.

Renewable energy• Provision of green energy for the

event mainly from Eskom and from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

• Installation of solar-powered traffic lights in Durban at key intersections.

• Installation of photovoltaic panels at Kendal and Lethabo power stations.

Background on renewable energy choices by Eskom

As South Africa receives more than 2 500 hours of sunshine per year, with average solar radiation levels that range between 4.5 and 6.5 kWh/m2

daily, Eskom is committed to utilising solar technologies to take advantage of this vast resource.

Photovoltaics are a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct-current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels comprising a number of cells containing a photovoltaic material.

Driven by advances in technology

and increases in manufacturing scale and sophistication, the cost of photovoltaics has declined steadily since the first solar cells were manufactured.

Based on the design and layout of the system, there is an opportunity for photovoltaics to provide a significant amount of non-grid electricity to various Eskom facilities and also serve as a means of providing shaded parking for visitors and employees in some applications. A photovoltaic system interconnected into existing Eskom buildings will provide zero-emissions clean energy during daylight hours. The electricity generated by the photovoltaic systems will reduce the amount of grid electricity consumed by the building, while offering the opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of Eskom’s facilities. Megawatt Park, Kendal power station, and Lethabo power station have been chosen as the first three sites for implementation of Eskom’s photovoltaic systems.

The science behind climate change

Life on earth depends on the amount of energy received from the sun. About 30% of the sunlight that beams towards the earth is deflected by the outer atmosphere and scattered back into space. The rest reaches the planet’s surface and is reflected upward again as a type of slow-moving energy called infrared radiation. The heat caused by infrared radiation is absorbed by “greenhouse gases” (GHGs), which slow the escape of heat from the atmosphere. The earth’s four major GHGs include 9-26% of carbon dioxide (CO2), 4-9% of methane (CH4), 3-7% of ozone (O3), and 36-70% of water vapour (H2O), while the other non-major gas contributors to the earth’s greenhouse effect include clouds, which also absorb and emit infrared radiation.

Although GHGs make up only about 1% of the earth’s atmosphere, they regulate the world’s climate by trapping heat, holding it in a kind of warm-air blanket that surrounds the

planet. This phenomenon is what scientists call the “greenhouse effect”. Without it, scientists estimate that the average temperature on earth would be colder by approximately 12ºC – far too cold to sustain the earth’s ecosystems. While the greenhouse effect is an essential environmental prerequisite for life on earth, there really can be too much of a good thing. The problems begin when human activities distort and accelerate the natural process by creating more GHGs in the atmosphere. This is referred to as “the enhanced greenhouse gas effect” or “climate change phenomenon”.

What causes climate change? Human-induced activities

distort the natural process by increasing the number of GHGs (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, sulphur hexafluoride, and two groups of gases, hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons). Some of these activities include the following: 1. Fossil fuel power generation

is a key factor in climate change due to the great amount of GHGs released from such generation activities.

2. Motor vehicles that use fossil-based diesel and petrol are increasing around the planet.

3. Farming practices and land-use changes, which increase the levels of methane and nitrous oxide

4. High consumption patterns, which

lead to high waste generation and waste disposal, resulting in high methane generation. Consumption patterns have also resulted in the increased use of fossil fuels in terms of transportation, etc.

5. Rapid population growth implying a growing dependency on energy. More people use fossil fuels for heat, transportation, and manufacturing. More intensive farming occurs to feed the ever-increasing population. More people also mean more waste generation and disposal.

6. Many factories emit long-lasting industrial gases.

7. Deforestation also contributes to climate change. Trees use CO

2 and give off oxygen in its place, which helps to create the optimal

balance of gases in the atmosphere. As more forests are logged for timber or burnt to make way for farming, fewer trees are available to perform this critical function of CO2 absorption. Burning of forests also releases the trapped CO2 into the atmosphere.

Why is climate change a global concern?

With an increase in human-induced activities, resulting in increased CO2 levels, latest climate models by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports indicate that the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 1.1 to 6.4ºC during the 21st century.

The IPCC has already released four globally recognised reports to illustrate that human-induced activities are changing the composition of the atmosphere and that increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases is drastically changing the earth’s climate in terms of climate variability, extreme events, and, of course, long-term climate change. The IPCC further agrees that

even a small increase in the global temperature is likely to affect cloud

cover, precipitation, wind patterns, the frequency and severity of storms, as

well as the duration of seasons. However, scientists are still not sure of the amount by which it will change; this increasingly illustrates the severity of the

climate change problem for the earth’s ecosystem and its inhabitants. As a result, action to slow climate change and adapt to the changing climate is becoming costly and increasingly changing the way global economies and people conduct their day-to-day activities.

What are governments’ response to climate change?

In realising the climate change problem, the impacts of climate change and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs), countries opted to sign a global treaty, now known as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), focussing on tackling this global problem. The UNFCCC governs and drives the climate change process at international levels.

The UNFCCC’s goal is to consider what can be done to reduce climate change (i.e. mitigation of climate change through GHG reductions) and to cope with whatever impacts are inevitably brought by climate change (i.e. adaptation to climate change). The UNFCCC does not contain any legally binding commitments for any country.

In 1997, however, the Kyoto Protocol was negotiated and became the legal instrument of the UNFCCC. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialised countries and the European community for the reduction of GHG emissions. This amounts to an average of 5% against 1990 levels from 2008 to 2012. The Protocol came into force in 2005 following agreement by the majority of countries. The Kyoto Protocol further proposed three financial mechanisms that would assist countries with caps to meet their targets, viz. the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), carbon ‘emission’ trading and joint implementation.

The US, which is historically the largest emitter of GHGs, has not signed into the Kyoto Protocol and thus not bound to any legal obligation, nor participates in any of the Kyoto mechanisms. However, many progressive states within the US have voluntarily taken on measures aimed at reducing the amount of GHG’s emitted. Every year, in June and December, governments who are signatories to the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol countries come together to negotiate how these commitments will be met.

COP17: The countdown begins!Eskom and COP17: Renewable and energy efficiency platforms

Back to the basics of climate change

Interesting links:• http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/greenhouse-effect• http://www.climatechangechallenge.org/Resource%20Centre/

Climate-Change/3 what_causes_climate_change.htm• www.unfccc.de• http://www.ipcc.ch/• http://www.environment.gov.za/• http://cdm.unfccc.int/index.html• www.ceepa.co.za/Climate_Change/index.html• www.idrc.ca• www.csag.uct.ac.za• www.erc.uct.ac.za• http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/greenhouse.htm.

• http://www.eskom.co.za/annreport10/fact_sheets/manage_env.htm

If you want to know more about climate change activities, or if you want to find out how you can contribute to COP17, please contact Lwandle Mqadi at

MqadiL@eskom.co.za.

Eskom has launched a website focussed on COP17! Visit the intranet

to take a look.

Working together: Saving tomorrow, today.

Let us go back to the basics and look at some

facts about climatechange, including the science and causes of

climate change, as well asthe reasons why climate

change is a global concern.

Page five Page six

Eskom is proud and privileged to be associated with COP17/CMP7

Tips to conserve water, manage waste, and save energy

The launch of the COP17/CMP7 internal communications campaign to Eskom staff on Friday

7 October embraced the true nature of caring by acting as a call to action to address the

global theme for COP17/CMP7: “Working together:

Saving tomorrow, today!”

Dr Steve Lennon, divisional executive (Eskom International), said, “Most people within Eskom, and

indeed the world, view climate change as an issue that does not affect them. Climate change is the knock-on effect of what we consume and that is why climate change is not something that is ‘out there’, but rather something that requires your urgent actions.”

Eskom CE, Brian Dames, mirrored these sentiments by reminding Guardians that their individual actions were not only required, but would also be measured during the campaign, which would continue until the end of COP17/CMP7 on 9 December 2011. He further highlighted that the actions required needed to be sustainable in order for them to have a positive impact in the long term.

Positive changeMC at the launch, Simon Gear: “Think of any positive change you want to make in your own life in the form of a triangle. The three corners of the triangle are represented by health, wealth, and happiness. When you make a change in two of the three areas, the inevitable effect on the environment will be a positive one. So, instead of thinking how you will make a positive change on the environment, be selfish about it, and make two positive changes in your own life, one in at least two of the three corners of this life triangle, and you will have made a positive change in the environment.”

PledgesThe internal communications campaign consisted of various activities, which started with Guardians pledging their actions by placing them on the wire baobab tree in the atrium at Megawatt Park. This tree was designed and sculpted by Bigboy, an artist from north-west Johannesburg. The baobab was chosen because it is the official symbol of the COP17/CMP7 conference. Staff made their pledges on recycled paper bags, which contained seeds of the karee, an indigenous tree. “Making a pledge, however, is not enough. The campaign embraces taking action and calls all staff to showcase what they are doing to make a difference,” said Brian.

Water, waste, and energy The campaign continued with weekly themes, namely, water conservation, waste management, and energy efficiency, to coincide with the launch of the Megawatt Park solar photovoltaic project erected in the visitors’ parking area. Guardians were encouraged to showcase their actions taken in these areas in the atrium at MWP around the baobab tree for everyone to see.

Vision 2050During the launch, the CE highlighted the importance of COP17/CMP7 and the focus on climate change by referencing a report named “Vision 2050”. “The report creates a vision of the earth in 40 years’ time and mentions that, taking current growth trends into consideration, the global population will have reached nine billion from its current estimated seven billion. To support nine billion people, we will need 2.3 earths. As we only have one earth, business as usual is no

longer acceptable – immediate action is required from every individual to minimise our impact. For Guardians, it is not only actions at home that count. Their actions at work have far-reaching effects.”

Kids get involved, tooWith the aim of involving the next generation, one of the highlights of the internal communications campaign launched for COP17/CMP7 was the children’s art competition. Children of all full-time Eskom employees were asked to portray their vision of the future of the earth – essentially, what actions they thought were required to save tomorrow, today!

Commitment to innovation put into actionEvery Eskom Guardian is responsible for the security of supply of electricity around COP17/CMP7 to the whole of South Africa. Brian stressed that Guardians had a real responsibility to constantly be informed, interested, and excited about new technologies and measures to reduce carbon emissions through the way electricity was generated. This included renewable energy sources as well as measures of energy efficiency.

Steve challenged staff to be innovative in their approach to climate change and to generate ideas that could be incubated and researched, hopefully to implementation for the better of the environment. Some of these innovative initiatives are already in the implementation phase such as the solar photovoltaic energy solutions to be installed at Megawatt Park and at traffic lights in the ICC precinct in KZN. The concentrating photovoltaic solar solutions at Lethabo and Kendal power stations aim to use renewable energy on site to add to the capacity of power stations, thus reducing the carbon footprint of existing plants. Another such example of Eskom’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions is the Sere wind farm project. Numerous other projects have also been implemented over the past 18 months, including projects in KZN focusing on renewable energy, efficiency of buildings, and solar energy solutions in low-cost housing projects. All of these are testament that Eskom embraces the theme of “Working together: Saving tomorrow, today!”

Water conservation

Rain water harvesting

Rain water harvesting is the practice of collecting rainwater and storing it for subsequent use. The most common form of rain water harvesting is from the roofs of buildings, but it can also be collected as storm water run-off through specially prepared ground surfaces or via subsoil drainage from turf areas. Rain water can be used for outdoor use, such as irrigation or pool filling, or for indoor use, such as clothes washing, toilet flushing, or bathing. Properly treated rain water can also serve as emergency drinking water or even primary drinking water if no other source is available.

The reasons behind harvesting rain water are to: Conserve – water is a scarce resource that is essential for our existence. Our supplies are increasingly coming under pressure.Protect – storm water run-off from roofs and paved surfaces overburden our storm water infrastructure and damage our waterways.Save – rain water falls freely from the sky and can be captured and used for almost any application, saving you on your water bills.

Toilet flushing

Aside from inserting a two-litre bottle filled with water in the toilet cistern, do not flush items down the toilet unnecessarily, such as cigarette butts or solid items. These are best disposed of in appropriate waste management systems for recycling or for disposal.

Waste management

Reusable shopping bags versus plastic/paper bags

Did you know that less than 3% of plastic bags are recycled; the rest end up in landfills and oceans and as litter.

Paper bags, which many people consider a better alternative to plastic bags, carry their own set of environmental problems. According to the American Forest and Paper Association, in 1999, the United States alone used 10 billion paper grocery bags, which adds up to a lot of trees! The answer, then, according to many environmentalists, is high-quality reusable shopping bags made of materials that do not harm the environment during production and that do not need to be discarded, but can be used again and again. These bags typically carry at least twice as much as most standard plastic shopping bags and are easier to carry, washable, and made from strong fabric that will last for years.

Plastic bags that end up in landfills sit for roughly 1 000 years before decomposing and release toxic chemicals into the soil during decomposition.

In our oceans, plastic debris was found in almost 75% of dead sea turtles in 2002.

Recycling (glass, paper, etc)

Why is recycling glass, paper, plastic, and cans when travelling green? Even if you do not like to recycle, these days we are all pretty trained to recycle. So, when you are travelling and you suddenly have no place to put your recyclables – newspapers, wine bottles, plastic water bottles – it can feel quite wrong to put things you know should be recycled into a dustbin.

Recycling glass, cans, plastic, and paper significantly reduces natural resource consumption, saves energy, cuts back on air and water pollution, and avoids adding more to our already overburdened landfills. It is good common sense.

Energy efficiency

Compact fluorescent lighting

Compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) is one of the easiest ways to save electricity, save money and, ultimately, reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere. These bulbs give the same amount of light as standard incandescent lights, but use just 20% of the electricity, so you save on your electricity bills. They also last longer than incandescent bulbs, and put less pressure on our resources used to produce electricity, such as coal.

Induction cooker

An induction cooker is arguably the cheapest, fastest, and safest way of cooking, allowing you to save more than 50% on electricity and 64% on your cooking time! The induction cooker provides rapid heating, improved efficiency, and greater heat consistency, providing instant heat, but creating no heat itself.

Solar lighting/sensor lights

Solar-powered light systems are a reliable, renewable, and remarkable way to light an outdoor space because the technology draws its power from an unlimited source – the sun, of which we have an abundance here in South Africa. This approach to saving energy is widely considered one of the most practical, viable, economical, and environmentally friendly for long-term use for your parking lot, road, garden, academic campus, retail or corporate complex, bike trail, billboard, sign, pavilion, bus stop, or fence line. Security/sensor lights also help to save money and energy because they will come on only when they are needed.

Day-to-day energy savers• Shower instead of bath• Use economy cycles on

electrical equipment• Use cold water taps rather

than hot water taps when only cold water is needed (e.g. when you wash your hands, or rinse something)

• Use full loads in equipment• Set geyser thermostat at

60%• Sun-dry washing when the

sun is out rather than using a machine

• In winter, keep doors and windows closed to keep warm air in your home

• Use electric blankets instead of heaters

• Switch off heaters when they are not needed

• Use pots and pans that completely cover stove plates

• Allow food to defrost in the refrigerator rather than the microwave

• Compare cooking times on packaging and use the method that takes the least time and power

• Use small appliances such as toasters, electric grills and skillets, slow cookers electric pots and bottle warmers as they use less electricity than a stove

• Use an electric kettle to boil water rather boiling water in a saucepan on the stove

• Do not fill the kettle full when you only need a single cup – only boil the water you need

• Placing insulation in the ceiling helps to keep a house warm in winter and cool in summer

Refrigeration tips• Do not open the door

unnecessarily• Ensure that door seals are

intact and sealed when shut• Switch off the fridge when

it is empty or when you are going on holiday

• Let hot food cool down before placing it in the refrigerator

• Defrost the fridge regularly• Leave space between items

on shelves - this allows cool air to circulate more easily

• Keeping freezers frost-free will save power and money

• Do not overstock your freezer, to allow cold air to circulate easier and less power is required to keep the temperature constant

DE Eskom International, Dr Steve Lennon: “Climate change is not something that is ‘out there’, but rather something that requires your urgent actions.”

Eskom CE Brian Dames: “Immediate action is required from every individual to minimise our impact.”

Staff made their pledges on recycled paper bags, which contained seeds of the karee, an indigenous tree.

A wire baobab tree, which was used at Megawatt Park at the launch of the internal communications campaign, was chosen because it is the official symbol of the COP17/CMP7 conference.

Page seven Page eight

How is Eskom rising to the climate change challenge?As a signatory to the

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, South

Africa understands its obligation to reduce carbon emissions, while continuing

to develop in a manner that results in benefits to the economy, society, and the environment. South

Africa has no internationally binding obligation to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions, but it is committed to sustainable

development policies and measures. Eskom, as

a state-owned company, is working closely with

Government in this regard.

At COP17-CMP7, the decisions taken and commitments made by the international community will

have an impact on every human, as well as on future generations. As a leading role player in the South African delegation, Eskom has a huge responsibility to ensure that South Africa’s best interests are represented fairly and that Eskom commits to achievable and sustainable targets.

Eskom is already responding to climate change, while taking into consideration energy security, access, and affordability for all South Africans. In terms of carbon emissions and the predominant use of coal as a fuel source in its power plants, Eskom acknowledges that coal has provided the basis for South Africa’s industrial economy and is still the most viable baseload option for Eskom and South Africa in the short term. It is in this context that Eskom is committed to diversifying its energy mix to lower-carbon-emitting technologies as it prepares for the impact of the adverse effects of climate change.

Eskom has, therefore, explored a range of technology options, including efficiency opportunities for its new coal power plants planned for commissioning in the next few years. All of Eskom’s plans in terms of new fuel source types, technology types, and their capacity will be guided by the Department of Energy’s (DoE) electricity Integrated Resources Plan (IRP). The IRP2010, which is a recommended “policy-adjusted plan”, is geared towards a low-carbon future and aligned with South Africa’s long-term climate change mitigation scenarios. It allows greenhouse gas emissions to peak, plateau, and decline in line with Government’s climate change aspirations. As such, Eskom has aligned its medium- to long-term strategy and plans with South Africa’s national climate change response policy development process.

Eskom is being proactive in mitigating and adapting to climate change through its climate change response strategy. This article will spell out Eskom’s climate change strategy as well as more specific initiatives, research, activities, and objectives that have been embarked on.

Eskom’s climate change response strategyEskom supports the South African national approach through its climate change strategy, referred to as the Eskom Climate Change Six-point Plan:

1. Diversification of the generation mix to lower-carbon-emitting technologies2. Energy efficiency measures to reduce demand and greenhouse gas and other emissions3. Adaptation to the negative impacts of climate change4. Innovation through research, demonstration, and development5. Investment through carbon market mechanisms6. Progress through advocacy, partnerships, and collaborationDevising and managing a strategy of this magnitude and importance need across-the-board buy-in and participation. The drivers of the strategy and its implementations are, therefore, coordinated by the strategy and risk chief officer, supported by the following business structures:• Climate change and sustainability • Adaptation to climate change core

team• Organisational strategy and corporate

planning • Risk and resilience teams • Group technology research• Operational units and their DE

management teams • Engineering planning• Divisional environmental managers• Divisional risk managers and other

committeesThe strategy is consistently being

reviewed and updated. Also, all the developments, revisions, and coordination of strategy activities are managed by the Climate Change and Sustainability department. In the 2011/2012 financial year, the focus has been on the adaptation to climate change strategy, green financing strategy, and all its related activities. The following sections will cover some of the areas covered by Eskom’s adaptation to climate change strategy and its related activities.

Weather: atmospheric conditions at a particular place in terms of air temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed, and precipitation.

versus

Climate: weather averaged over time (typically decades).

Should we adapt AND mitigate?Adaptation to the impacts of climate change remains an unexplored territory by most electricity utilities for various

reasons. One reason is that, for most utilities, the focus is on the mitigation of climate change – that is, reducing greenhouse gases. As a result, very limited resources and focus are generally dedicated to the assessment of risks, resilience, and vulnerability of electric utilities to weather changes, extreme events, climate variability, and long-term climate change. So, yes, as it has become evident that the damage has been done and will continue unless we do both, that is, anticipate and plan for long-term climate impacts through various adaptation to climate change activities and continue to mitigate climate change, thus preventing further increased global warming potentials.

Why adaptation to climate change?The impacts due to the above factors are timescale dependent and intensity defined. Thus, adaptation to climate change includes all the “adjustments”, from design, to planning, to investments, to implementation of “weather/climate-proof” existing or new infrastructure and processes due to the impacts of changing weather and overall climate.

It is, therefore, imperative that Eskom clearly defines its climate-related risks guided by:• thresholds (the highest or lowest

level of an impact that a system can withstand before it fails) of existing infrastructure and processes to climate-related risks;

• adaptive capacity of existing

infrastructure and processes to all climate-related risks; and

• vulnerability, resilience, and risk management of its overall systems to all climate-related risks.

Once these climate-related risks have been defined, “treatment plans” or “adaptation activities” will have to be defined, costed, and implemented accordingly. Climate-related risks are defined through action research, as well as through climate modelling research. Action research includes research through case studies, surveys, assessment of incidences, and trends, focused especially on observed historical and current weather changes, extreme events, and climate variability. Climate models are used to predict future climatic changes and future potential impacts of climate change.

Adaptation activities need to be integrated into all existing Eskom divisional planning parameters (strategic, technical, financial/investment) and decision-making processes using existing tools and methods such as Eskom’s integrated risk management framework, resilience management strategies, and overall strategic environmental and sustainability frameworks and systems.

Where did the process start? In reviewing the overall Eskom climate change strategy, Eskom determined the gaps and needs for adaptation by asking the following questions:i. How are we gathering climate-

related information at Eskom? Who is coordinating this information within Eskom? Who is using this information within Eskom? Do we have an easily accessible portal for all of this information? Who is verifying this information? Information required

includes the following: extreme weather events; water; sea swells and sea-level rise; lightning; temperature fluctuations, including both low and high temperatures; and the historical and current impacts of climate-related factors on Eskom business.

ii. With the global and regional climate models being used to predict climate change and the impacts of climate change, what will Eskom require to downscale these models to national and Eskom levels?

iii. With all historical, current, and future climate change information and its impacts recorded and coordinated, how will Eskom outline and create a coordinated response to all these impacts? Since an integrated risk management approach (IRM) and various teams will be applying and interpreting this information, what will this include? What activities need to be undertaken to ensure that Eskom’s adaptation baseline is maintained in terms of the following: a. A coordinated portal for weather

and climate information to be utilised by the Eskom business as and when required.

b. A definition of planning assumptions from an international, regional, national, and Eskom perspective, that is, Eskom’s baseline to adapt to climate change. These planning assumptions will have to be regularly reviewed to ensure their relevance.

c. Investment in climate change research to do the following: identify and conduct action research focusing on historical, current, and future climate change impacts on Eskom, that is, weather impacts, climate variability, and long-term climate change, including extreme events, while identifying vulnerable areas and systems within Eskom; define climate “thresholds” for Eskom business, infrastructure, and processes, that is, level of vulnerability, level of resilience, and adaptive capacity; quantify the cost impacts of adaptation on Eskom, including the available finance and investment opportunities for Eskom, that is, adaptation cost curve for Eskom; and identify potential adaptation options for Eskom at divisional levels as part of divisional planning strategies.

d. Integrating climate change adaptation into Eskom’s stakeholder communication and reputation-building initiatives, including key partnerships with information, research, and implementing bodies at national, regional, and international levels.

e. Establishing a consolidated Eskom position on the potential impact of climate change on all aspects of its business activities (and, in turn, on its customers and the country).

Where are we now? The implementation of Eskom’s climate change strategy is progressing well. Workshops, discussions, interpretations, and, most importantly, the learning-by-doing process of what adaptation to climate change means for Eskom are under way!

The process of adaptation to climate change also relies on applied research, where Eskom researchers are investing in applied research to further define thresholds, adaptive capacity, and

vulnerability of Eskom systems, including future climate change impacts. Eskom researchers are not working alone; they have brought in the University of Cape Town, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to assist with the following:• Identifying thresholds of vulnerable

systems within Eskom, their adaptation measures, and costing of adaptation

• Development of a short-term forecasting tool for the selected study areas using modelling

• Modelling climate change future projections of rainfall, temperature, lightning and storms, etc.

• Assessing the impacts of climate change on the water resources in the Waterberg area

• Modelling the hydrology of four catchments in the Waterberg area and the Hartebeespoort pipeline

• Modelling of summer convection (thunderstorms, lightning, and rainfall intensity and frequency) over Southern Africa

What other initiatives can we look out for? Because they possess various skills and specialities, Guardians have been approaching this issue of adaptation to climate change from different angles. For instance, the Eskom Asset Information Management team has joined the process of informing the adaptation to climate change strategy process by conducting surveys focusing on a range of question, including these:• What weather data is Eskom already

monitoring across all operating units and strategic functions?

• Which business processes and Eskom operations are affected by weather phenomena and will benefit from appropriate weather data integration?

• Which aspects of weather do we need to monitor in real time to warn about extreme weather events for situational awareness and response purposes in the control rooms and customer nerve centre?

• Which aspects of weather data do we need to gather in a long-term climate data warehouse for research*h and analysis purposes?

The greatest problem in a crisis is thinking that because COP17-CMP7 delegates are meeting and that because there is a strategy in place, the problem has been solved. The strategy is the vehicle, but the contribution that every Eskom Guardian makes is the fuel that will power the vehicle. Make sure that you are aware of the contribution that your department or division is making towards adapting to climate change. Also, learn as much as you can about climate change, and then ask yourself: “What can I do to make a difference?”

Where can I find out more?• Weather surveys: Liza van der Merwe,

GIS Asset Information Management, Group IT, tel.: +27 (11) 800 4098, email liza.vdmerwe@eskom.co.za

• Environmental research: Kgaugelo Chiloane, Eskom Group Technology: Research, Testing, and Development, tel.: +27 (11) 629 5631, email: chiloak@eskom.co.za

• Climate change strategy for Eskom and specifically the adaptation strategy development process: Lwandle Mqadi, tel.: +27 (11) 800 5871, email: mqadil@eskom.co.za

Heavy rainfall caused serious flooding in in October 2009 in Mpumalanga.

Strong winds in 2008 in KwaZulu-Natal resulted in conductor clashing causing damage resulting in fires. Lives were also lost.

Sea swells damage images of Ballito, South Durban in April 2007 in KwaZulu-Natal.

Kokstad substation in in KwaZulu-Natal covered in snow.

Global electricity initiativeClimate change: sustainability through innovationDiscussions on climate change, particularly anthropogenic climate change, have traditionally been focused on mitigation actions, but more recently increased emphasis is also being placed on adaptation. Notwithstanding the critical need to adequately reflect on the role of electricity in climate change mitigation, there is a pressing need to carefully consider adapting to climate variability and climate change. There has, thus, been a growth in interest by many electricity utilities in shaping a business adaptation response to climate change, and to this end, electricity utilities are engaging in broad dialogue about adaptation with a variety of stakeholders, including those at the local level.

For example, if electricity companies are making additional investments, many will require that climate change adaptation issues be taken into account. A more integrated approach, including the co-benefits of mitigation and adaptation, is also being considered. Adaptation in electricity operations and investments may require improved risk management, including improved understanding of how resilience can be built into everyday management practices (for example, reducing risks related to extreme weather events). The way in which current and future operations and resources are managed, including HR management, may, therefore, need to be reconsidered, with serious efforts given to innovation in technologies and the management of existing practices.

In this report, some of the efforts of the electricity utilities and the challenges being faced as we grapple with building effective resilience to climate variability and climate change are highlighted. These efforts form part of an ongoing and wider discussion on adapting to the changing climate.

To download the full reports, please visit www.EskomNews.com or www.globalelectricityinitiative.org/reports.html.

A special thanks to the COP17 team,

I would like to congratulate our COP17 team, under the leadership of Steve Lennon, on the very successful outcome for Eskom of our COP17 work programme. Eskom hosted and participated in numerous events, managed our exhibition, communicated with all our staff and other stakeholders, as well as being represented on the South African delegation and ensuring security of supply for the event. I know that this entailed many hours of hard work both before and during the event, and we thank the team and their supporting staff and functions for their dedication and professionalism.

Brian Dames

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COP17 – looking back, going forwardThe climate change

negotiations began with preparatory meetings for the African group on 23

November 2011, and these were followed by preparatory

meetings for the Group of 77 and China (G77 and China) on the 26 and 27

November 2011. COP17/CMP7 officially commenced

on 28 November 2011 with the participation

of 195 countries.

Expectations were not high in terms of securing a legally binding agreement on targets for emissions reductions post

the Kyoto 2012 deadline, or for developed countries agreeing on providing finance. COP16/CMP6 saw agreements on processes and mechanisms to take the negotiations a step forward without actual agreements on how to implement these. The pressure was on COP17/CMP7 to take a step change to implement the process agreements and determine a firm path for legally binding targets for all developed countries. As you are probably aware the outcomes of Durban were very positive.

Major outcomes of the COP17/CMP7 meeting• Establishment of an Ad Hoc Working

Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (AWG-DP). This decision sets the road map to discuss targets and commitments for all developed country parties (especially the United States of America and also includes signatories to the Kyoto Protocol) and major emitters among the developing countries (particularly China and India).

• Second Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol. This decision outlines the conditions and work programme for the start of the second commitment period.

• Launch of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through which developed countries can fund mitigation and adaptation activities in developing countries.

• Establishment of the Technology Mechanism whose objective is to enhance action on technology development and transfer in order to support action on mitigation and adaptation.

• Establishment of an Adaptation Committee to improve the coordination of adaptation actions on a global scale. In addition, a work programme on approaches to address loss and damage associated with climate change impacts in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change was established and agreed upon.

• Decision to include carbon capture and storage in the clean development mechanism and an agreement to define new market mechanisms under the convention, which will enhance the cost effectiveness of mitigation actions.

So, what do these outcomes mean for South Africa and the world?The outcomes of Durban far exceeded expectations. Many predicted that the outcome would be a weak political agreement that would set a process for agreement on targets sometime in the future and which would effectively end the Kyoto Protocol. Many also felt that the developing countries should give up their desire to see the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol. The establishment of the AWG-DP and the agreement on a second commitment period are real reasons for celebration. It means that those parties that are signatories to the Kyoto Protocol will make new commitments to reduce their emissions in 2013. It also means that other major emitters such as the US, China and India will start discussions on their commitments and targets to be agreed by 2015 in order for those commitments to be implemented from 2020. Although the outcome has been criticised as weak by some - given that the US is still not legally bound – it is a far cry from where the US was, in terms of their desire to discuss legally binding targets in the negotiating sessions leading up to the Durban meeting. At previous sessions, the US claimed that it was nowhere near discussing legal forms and structures given the lack of domestic legislation on climate change. Other major emitters like China refused to discuss commitments until the US was willing to agree to commitments to reduce their emissions. While the Durban outcomes were largely positive there were some disappointing outcomes. These include:• Level of ambition in terms of targets.• Specific decisions on the market

mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol which have been deferred for discussion at COP18.

• Uncertainty on the targets for the second commitment period as there were disagreements regarding

the transfer of “carryover” credits that were generated during the first commitment period into the second commitment period. This was specifically by a group of countries from Eastern Europe who are now part of the European Union.

The work of the Ad Hoc Working Groups (i.e. Durban Platform, Kyoto Protocol, and Long Term Cooperative Action under the UNFCCC), will be very intensive in 2012 as the details of the Durban agreements will be negotiated further. The establishment of the GCF is an important step, but the most important work on determining the sources of finance and securing the $100bn a year is still to come. The establishment of the technology and adaptation committees and the outlining of their work programme means that these committees will become operational in 2012 and should see much desired progress in these areas. The Durban outcome on the establishment of an Adaptation Committee was an extremely important one for Africa.

So, what are the implications for Eskom?Overall, the outcome of COP17/CMP7 is very positive for Eskom. It presents many opportunities for Eskom to show leadership. The outcomes include the following:• Eskom can develop robust investment

plans for submission to Government to access GCF funding when it becomes available.

• Eskom’s specific energy efficiency and renewables initiatives can be packaged into investment plans as part of Eskom’s offering to meet the country’s emissions reductions aspirations. The initiatives can also be submitted to Government for application to the GCF for funding.

• Providing input to the Technology Mechanism, based on our experience in Innovation, Research, Development and Demonstration, through the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

• Set-up a specific engagement with the DST to understand their requirements. We could also offer to provide expertise for informing research and technology needs as well as what South Africa should be putting forward as its technology needs assessment document which is required by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

• Providing input to the development of the national adaptation plan through the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and Department of Energy (DoE). This will ensure that Eskom’s adaptive capacity and long term resilience to the impacts of climate change including extreme events and climate variability are integrated in the national plans.

• The DEA has indicated that they want to engage Eskom on the national adaptation plans. Eskom could offer to share our research work in this area in addition to sharing the adaptation strategy. We could also offer to assist in resilience planning by sharing the resilience simulation exercises being developed with Eskom to deal with extreme weather events.

• Intensified access to potentially

additional sources of revenue for new technologies and energy efficiency programmes via the carbon markets.

• Eskom is already involved in assisting the DEA in developing the thinking on new carbon market mechanisms. This work should continue as it has great potential for realising new revenue streams for funding for low carbon technologies.

Where to from here?As can be seen from above discussions, climate change is not going to go away, if anything, the scenario might change for the worse. Therefore it is essential that the plans set out and the commitments made at COP17 be carried out and be honoured. It will be an on-going process but chief among the tasks include:• Completion of those RE/EE projects

not done by COP17 largely through the Integrated Demand Management and the Renewables Units.

• Build relationships with local municipalities to ensure a supportive and co-operative relationship in order to speedily address incidents and emergencies to ensure security of supply.

• Physical security treatment plans need to be unpacked, documented, tested, and integrated into the business through the Strategy and Risk Division. This should be done to avoid potential power interruptions in power supply arising from security breaches.

• There has been a request by business in SA to continue the work of the CEO Forum either through the National Business Initiative (NBI), Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) or as a separate structure as was the case for COP17. The future of the initiative and how to ensure that interested organisations get information still needs to be decided on. Discussions will be held with various organisations including the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), International Energy Agency (IEA) and Global Superior Energy Performance (GSEP).

• Climate change messaging needs to continue beyond COP17 with all stakeholders (internal to and external to Eskom) and should be integrated into existing campaigns such as 49m, Guardians, etc.

• Our engagement with the Department Of Energy (DOE), the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) was strengthened during and in the build up to COP17. We need to maintain and continue to build such relationships to facilitate smoother working interactions including with NGO’s.

• Ensure continued engagement and support to Government especially as SA is the COP President for 2012.

For a detailed report on COP17/CMP7, please contact Lwandle Mqadi, Climate Change and Sustainability Department, Strategy and Risk Division, tel. 011 800 5871, or e-mail MqadiL@eskom.co.za.

Amidst the deepening crisis of climate change, nations united at COP17 to work toward a better tomorrow, today!

Compiled by Climate Change & Sustainable Development

For further details on content, please contact Lwandle Mqadi, Climate Change and Sustainability,

Megawatt Park.Tel: +27 11 800 58 71

E-mail: MqadiL@eskom.co.za