Your Excellencies,
Excellency Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, let me take this opportunity to commend your work as the Coordinator of the Conference of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, and your leadership since COP 15 in Copenhagen.
Excellencies, climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing humankind in the 21st century, and Africa as a continent is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The enormity of the challenge is such that, for the Copenhagen Conference which was meant to complete the negotiations under the 2007 Bali Roadmap, Heads of State were invited.
It was therefore an appropriate response by the African continent to engage at the highest level, hence we decided on the establishment of the Conference of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change.
We will all recall that work towards a future climate change regime could not be concluded in Copenhagen, and that put a severe stress on the confidence in the multilateral system, a system that South Africa treasures dearly.
Excellencies, the Conference in Cancun in December 2010, did bring some credibility to the multilateral process.
Cancun captured the areas of convergence and took us a step forward towards a comprehensive global regime on climate change.
In November and December of 2011, the African continent opens its arms to the rest of the world in Durban, South Africa. It is our wish that this conference becomes a platform for the world to take another step forward.
To us, the success of the conference in Durban includes the strengthening of the multilateral process under the UNFCCC. We therefore urge all Parties to find areas of agreement, and in our role as COP President, we will work with all Parties, impartially and with transparency.
Excellencies, Africa has been the envy of the world as it is the only continent that negotiates with one voice on the basis of a common position.
In the coming months as we prepare for the Conference in Durban, it is important that we maintain and enhance that unity.
The basis of our unity is based on brotherhood, and a collective vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.
It is therefore important that we engage in Durban, with intention to achieve three objectives.
The first objective should be that we continue supporting multilateral processes, hence we must implement decisions made in Cancun, and we must vigorously pursue the completion of work agreed to in Bali, 2007.
Secondly, as a vulnerable continent, we must prioritise an outcome that ensures that the global climate regime protects the environment for future generations.
Therefore, a determination must be made on the 2nd Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol, and also clarity on how to ensure a fair and comparable contribution by non-Kyoto Parties.
All countries of the world have a common responsibility to reduce climate impacts.
Lastly, the state of our socio-economic development, and dependence on natural resources for our livelihoods, makes us especially susceptible to catastrophic events such as droughts, floods and extreme weather events.
It is therefore important for us to make adaptation central to a future climate regime, recognising that the extent of our adaptation needs depends on an effective regime for emission reductions.
Excellency, I would like to extend a word of appreciation for work undertaken by the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, and the Africa Group Negotiators.
I would like to encourage them to continue their work as custodians of the Africa Common Position.
Excellencies, before I conclude I would like to reassure you all that the logistical arrangements are on track. We are ready to receive all the delegates to Durban in a manner expected of us.
I look forward to the conclusion of the work being undertaken by the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and the government of South Africa in their preparations for the Africa Pavilion in Durban.
I am convinced that, together we can deliver a successful Conference, that is truly African and memorable.
Excellency, I must once again reiterate the heartfelt thanks to your efforts and leadership in the last two conferences.
I thank you.
Source: The Presidency
