"The debate on climate-change science opens up exciting opportunities for rethinking our sciences," Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor MP said tonight when she opened the Rio Conventions Pavilion Programme at the COP17 in Durban "....
South Africa is considering how to strengthen the Rio pavilion at the local level through a number of initiatives - coordinated management of funding to address biodiversity and climate change as well as increased inclusion of climate change and biodiversity research within national biodiversity strategies."
The Rio Conventions’ Ecosystems and Climate Change Pavilion is a platform for raising awareness and sharing information about the latest practices and scientific findings on the co-benefits that can be realised through implementation of the three Rio Conventions - on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification. It allows for indigenous people, NGOs and IGOs to have a platform where they can participate in international conferences on environmental topics.
In Nagoya, at the inaugural Pavilion, some 2 500-3 500 people attended the discussions. Over two weeks, the Pavilion hosted a total of 66 events and receptions addressing cross-cutting themes relevant to the three Rio Conventions with the overall objective to support sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. It also convened in ‘virtual’ format at the COP16/ CMP 6 in Cancun, Mexico, 29 November – 10 December 2010.
Minister of Science and Technology, Ms Naledi Pandor opens the Rio Convention pavilion at COP17
