Benefiting BRICS in environmental affairs of Africa: AMAGEP intermediary

By Nanilethu Queens
Later this month, BRICS nations will gather in Johannesburg for their meeting. AMAGEP is seeking to take the opportunity for an inclusive conversation about environment that brings together governements and NGOs to discuss problem affecting South Africa and Africa in general. BRICS is an important source of foreign direct investment in key areas such as mining, automotive, transportation, clean energy, financial services and IT. BRICS nations observe the urgent need to address climate change and protect the environment, and are committed to promoting renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and biodiversity conservation. Third is the promotion of social development and reduction of inequality. The BRICS Strategy provides guidance as well as sets the framework for the BRICS cooperation, paving the way for further elaboration of sectorial development strategies, programs and roadmaps by the members to be then implemented under the leadership of respective signatories.

AMAGEP outlines 5 major environmental problems that include pollution, overpopulation, waste disposal, climate change, global warming, the greenhouse effect, etc. Various environment protection programs are being practiced at the individual, organizational and government levels with the aim of establishing a balance between man and the environment. Some environmental issues that affect Southern Africa are: water pollution, air pollution, land degradation, solid waste pollution, and deforestation. The various effects of climate change on rural communities are expected to include: drought, depletion of water resources and biodiversity, soil erosion, decreased subsistence economies and cessation of cultural activities. Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. Climate impacts are already harming health, through air pollution, disease, extreme weather events, and forced displacement, pressures on mental health, and increased hunger and poor nutrition in places where people cannot grow or find sufficient food. South Africa is especially vulnerable to climate change given its water and food insecurity, as well as the potential impacts for health, human settlements, infrastructure, and critical ecosystem services.

Health risks in South Africa that climate change would aggravate over the next few decades include heat stress; vector-borne diseases (such as malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever); extreme weather events; air pollution; communicable diseases (such as HIV/AIDS, TB and cholera), and non-communicable diseases. AMAGEP is one of the NGOs with the capacity to engage in effective mediation across BRICS environmental policy and how the three dilemmas of mediation operate across the cases. Factors shaping NGO mediation include the degree of authority a global governance institution offers to participating NGOs and within regional contexts, enduring elements of state-society relations, the political and legal operating environment for NGOs, and issue-specific aspects of each particular area of global governance. AMAGEP engages in analysis about the Russian case in particular and on the contributions that comparative politics approaches can bring to our understanding of global governance by BRICS in environmental and climate change sector.

BRICS is an important source of foreign direct investment in key areas such as mining, automotive, transportation, clean energy, financial services and IT. These investments and projects lead to significant job creation. trade and mutual investments, including through the identification of new business opportunities. he BRICS are now Africa’s largest trading partners with trade expected to reach more than US $500 billion by 2015, with 60 per cent from China. The BRICS are also becoming significant investors in Africa, especially in the manufacturing and service sectors. Africa has been a key part of the BRICS global mission, as the continent has tremendous potential for growth and development. The BRICS nations have recognized this potential and have been working to promote trade, investment, and development in Africa. That is why AMAGEP is willing to promote an internal connection between countries participating in BRICS Summit in Johannesburg this month and non-governmental organizations operating in the field of environmental in line with United Nations guidelines.