Women to discuss climate

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Pretoria - As part of preparations for the upcoming UN climate change summit in Durban, the Department of International Relations is to hold a consultative dialogue on women and climate change this week.

It said the dialogue formed part of national women's month celebration and is a build up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate's 17th Conference of Parties (COP17).

"South Africa has a key role to play in addressing women and climate change, through enhancing the voices of African women in climate change negotiations, mainstreaming gender perspectives in national policies, plans and other measures related to sustainable development and climate change," the department said in a statement.

More than 20 000 people are expected to arrive in South Africa for the conference that starts on 28 November. These include Heads of State and Government from more than 100 countries.

After both the Copenhagen and Cancun discussions failed to produce a legally binding climate treaty, delegates to the Durban talks are under immense pressure to produce some kind of deal that will be acceptable to both rich and developing nations.

Next year marks the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol, which binds nations to measurable mitigation and adaptation plans. It's not clear whether the countries will be committing to the a new agreement after Durban.

South Africa plans to cut emission by 34% by 2020 through the introduction of alternative energy sources.