SA's COP17 prep work said to be on track

Environmental and Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa and her International Relations and Cooperation counterpart Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told the media that the country was ready to host the event which will see over 20 000 delegates descend on Durban.

Molewa will lead the SA negotiating team, while Nkoana-Mashabane will be taking over as president of COP17.

Molewa said some of the preparatory work they had done included the coordination and implementation of Greening and Legacy Projects that reduce the impacts of climate change.

Another was the Public Climate Change Outreach and Mobilisation Programme aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of climate change by South Africans.

The primary objective

She said they had also seen the development, compilation and lobbying of the South African COP17 negotiation position. This, she said, was done through wide consultation with various stakeholders across the country, including academics, business and non-profit organisations.

The primary objective of the conference would be to reach an agreement on how to tackle climate change effectively at a global level in a fair manner, thus addressing the threats it posed to human development and growth.

She said no legal agreement will be likely to be reached on cutting down on emissions, and the outcome should build from the previous Bali Roadmap as well as putting into effect the Cancun Agreements.

Molewa stressed that climate change was arguably the biggest challenge facing humanity.

Post COP17, she said Climate Action Now, which was already underway in the country, would seek to ensure that all South Africans understand climate change and assist them to make informed decisions.

She conceded that simplifying the climate change language for ordinary people would be of essence.