United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres believes South Africa is more than ready to host the COP17 this December. Figueres was speaking from via video conference in Bonn, Germany at a media workshop on climate change held in Pretoria.
She says South Africa`s has shown strong leadership leading up to the conference scheduled to take place 28 November-9 December 2011. “South Africa`s leadership is much appreciated. They have not shyed away from the challenges that come with hosting the COP.”
UNFCCC was designed as an instrument to deal with Climate Change. It has universal membership with 165 signatories.
anada, Japan and Russia have said they will not accept new binding emission targets
Figueres says the success of the COP17 is a shared responsibility among all participating nations. “The success of the COP is a shared responsibility and not that of the chair. Every government has the responsibility to exercise flexibility at the COP and be willing to compromise with each other.”
Business leaders will also gather in Durban to discuss how the private sector can help with carbon emissions. Figueres said she will be attending a rally organised by faith communities led by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at Kingspark Stadium during COP.
Kyoto Protocol not coming to an end
Ambassador at large of COP17 Department of International Relations and Cooperation South Africa, Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko, says the Kyoto Protocol is not coming to an end this year but rather what is ending is the First Commitment Period. “It’s still to be decided how long the Second Commitment Period will be.” Canada, Japan and Russia have said they will not accept new binding emission targets. The countries are of the view that major economies should also be bound to the same targets.
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005. The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at COP7 in Marrakesh in 2001, and are called the “Marrakesh Accords.” The Kyoto Protocol is designed to assist countries in adapting to the adverse effects of climate change. It facilitates the development and deployment of techniques that can help increase resilience to the impacts of climate change.
– By Ayanda Kunene
