. Mr N J Njikelana (ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:
(a) What outcome will he set out to achieve at the 17th Conference of Parties (COP 17) in eThekwini later this year and (b) how will such an outcome build on the successes of COP 16?
Reply:
The process towards finding an outcome for the 17th Conference of the Parties is still under discussion.
As you are aware, Mexico is still President of the 16th Conference of the Parties until the start of the 17th Conference on the 28th November 2011, where-after, South Africa will take over the Presidency.
In the meantime, South Africa will work closely with Mexico towards reaching a good and favourable outcome, especially for the developing world which primarily bears the brunt of climate change, aggravated by high levels of poverty.
The outcome will also be informed by consultations, with other key international players as well as participation in the various meetings on the issue in order to build consensus towards an outcome.
Part of the outcome would certainly include the implementation of the Cancun Agreements, which was the outcome of the 16th Conference of the Parties.
In the main, South Africa will seek to address the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change, which is to reduce human-induced green house gases.
This however should not work against poverty eradication.
Furthermore South Africa would work towards strengthening multilateralism and to find ways to ensure that issues of development are taken into account.
South Africa will be seeking an outcome that is fair, equitable, implementable and effective.
We have appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee that is helping the country to prepare for this significant event, at both the logistical and content levels.
We will do our best to give the world a good, productive and successful conference.
Source: The Presidency
