Upbeat President Zuma congratulates Team South Africa

President Jacob Zuma has congratulated Team South Africa for the excellent outcome in Durban at the United Nations COP17/CMP7 conference.
 
An elated President Zuma, who is currently on a working visit to Benin, telephoned Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, COP 17 President, and Minister Edna Molewa, leader of the SA delegation to congratulate them on the outstanding achievement.
 
"The outcome in Durban is a coup for Africa. Issues that had taken so long to resolve have been resolved on our soil. We are very happy and proud of the South African team that worked so hard with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to make Durban succeed (UNFCCC). This is a moment of glory for South Africa and Africa," President Zuma said.
 
The President also extended his congratulations and word of appreciation to the entire COP17 Interministerial Committee, a team comprising Ministers, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and the Mayor of EThekwini Municipality.
 
"The whole team has done exceptionally well and has made us walk tall," said the President.

President Zuma also extends his gratitude and special acknowledgement to local and foreign media, civil society, especially COSATU, the interfaith sector, women's organisations and all others for their immense contribution to ensure the success of COP17.
 
"We also thank public servants from all government departments and all three spheres of government for their contribution to making the event," said President Zuma.
 
"We cannot forget the people of eThekwini and surroundings who, as usual welcomed the guests with open arms and warmth. Well done to Team South Africa, we did it again through working together," said President Zuma.
 
After two weeks negotiations, the parties made the following key decisions:
 
Green Climate Fund

• Countries have already started to pledge to contribute to start-up costs of the fund, meaning it can be made ready in 2012, and at the same time can help developing countries get ready to access the fund, boosting their efforts to establish their own clean energy futures and adapt to existing climate change.
• A Standing Committee is to keep an overview of climate finance in the context of the UNFCCC and to assist the Conference of the Parties. It will comprise 20 members, represented equally between the developed and developing world.
• A focussed work programme on long-term finance was agreed, which will contribute to the scaling up of climate change finance going forward and will analyse options for the mobilisation of resources from a variety of sources.

Adaptation

The  Adaptation Committee, composed of 16 members, will report to the COP on its efforts to improve the coordination of adaptation actions at a
global scale.

The adaptive capacities above all of the poorest and most vulnerable countries are to be strengthened. National Adaptation Plans will allow developing countries to assess and reduce their vulnerability to climate change.

The most vulnerable are to receive better protection against loss and damage caused by extreme weather events related to climate change.

Technology

The Technology Mechanism will become fully operational in 2012.

The full terms of reference for the operational arm of the Mechanism - the Climate Technology Centre and Network - are agreed, along with a clear procedure to select the host. The UNFCCC secretariat will issue a call for proposals for hosts on 16 January 2012.

Support of developing country action

• Governments agreed a registry to record developing country mitigation actions that seek financial support and to match these with support. The registry will be a flexible, dynamic, web-based platform.

Statement by Mac Maharaj
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