Tomorrow 15 March, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in partnership with the University of Johannesburg will launch a comprehensive consultation Indaba that will include stakeholders and develop a shared vision for the Durban conference to be held in December 2011.
With the recent tsunami in Japan and the massive earthquake in Haiti, natural disasters pose a serious threat to world environmentalists and cause sleepless nights for world leaders. This is the right time for scientists and environmentalists to gather their thoughts on how best we can mitigate climate change across the world.
Speakers range from departmental officials, academics, politicians and representatives from various organisations around Gauteng. With no doubt, many countries around the world are vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. With Gauteng having experienced minor earthquakes last year, it leaves us with no choice but to begin implementing tougher laws towards protecting our environment.
Outlining the outcomes of the recent climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molaba said despite an agreement being reached on certain issues, the conference was unable to answer many "difficult political questions”.
"South Africa has an immense amount of work to do in order to move forward from Cancun to Durban. Our challenge is to address the unresolved issues while at the same time ensuring that the agreements made in Cancun are further developed and elaborated," she said.
For more information about the event please contact:
Ms Taviv Rina
Tel: 011 355 1824
Cell: 082 094 2226
E-mail: rina.taviv@gauteng.gov.za
Date: 15 March 2011
Time: 08H00 - 16H10
Venue: Premier Hotel
Source: Gauteng Agriculture
