South Africa expects to get a deal on fighting Climate Change at the UNCCOP, which will be held in Durban this year. “We are going to come out of Durban with a deal. Ten years later we can’t have another promise on fighting Climate Change,” said Environmental Affairs spokesperson Blessing, Manale, who is also responsible for planning the conference. He was addressing delegates attending the Highway Africa/PACAI conference in Cape Town. “As we come out of Durban, we will have a year before we find a binding deal. Out of Durban we need to unlock the door out of Kyoto,” added Manale. He said a solution to Climate Change should be found as soon as possible. “The meeting in Durban is not about SA but about how SA will look in 20 years.” Manaite also told delegates that government is going to spend R350 million on the conference – one million of that amount will be spent to support African journalists to participate in the conference. Another one million will be donated to NGO’s. Over 30 000 delegates are expected to attend the Climate Change conference for 14 days in Durban and Manale assured that South Africa is ready to host the event.
– By Palesa Kobedi
