Initial day ot the climate conference – Harold Williams
COP17
In the opening plenary of the 17th Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the out-going president, Ms. Patricia Espinosa of Mexico where the 16th Conference was held last year, welcomed President Jacob Zuma and several other heads of state from Africa and endorsed the election of the president for this year’s conference, Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa.
Madam Espinosa commented on the achievements of Cancun-Mexico which included a comprehensive adaptation framework, commitment to limiting climate change within 2 degrees of increase, the approval of a Green Climate Fund to 100 billion annually by 2020, more recognition of forest conservation and fast tracking of Kyoto Protocol commitments by the heavily polluting countries.
Madam Espinosa said each country must do its own part to achieve these goals and not to betray the trust of billions of people who are vulnerable to climate change.
She said awareness and political will signified by the 20,000 participants of this years’ conference is a signal of the possibilities of achievement.
COP 17 president-elect Madam Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, said the consecutive election of women as presidents for the past two Conferences and the appointment of a female Executive Secretary for the UNFCCC are coincidences that must be utilized in the name of womens’ empowerment and on behalf of the millions calling for climate justice. She promised to facilitate consensus given the limited time available and ensure transparency and inclusiveness.
As the first binding Kyoto protocol commitment period is about to end and this conference, she said, must be made binding as a catalyst actualize the Green Climate Fund, which will help poor people and their governments to adapt to climate change and equalize the effects of pollution by harmonized conservation of the environment.
Madam Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, said the conference was in debt to the late Climate Change Campaigner Waangari Mathai who died fighting this cause.
Ms. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, quoted Nelson Mandela who said “It always seems impossible until it is done” and made South Africa an inspiration to the world as a model for harmony and democratic inclusion which can be emulated by the present negotiations.
The UNFCCC executive secretary said as pollution rates are now the highest in history, livelihoods are more at threat and need for corrective measures are challenging but achievable.
She said the world must seek constructive ways forward to fast-track the financing of the 194 Adaptation Plans of the world’s nations and clarify, innovative ways for the sustainability of climate action.
