Durban - Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa says "exam fever" is the best analogy to explain how government is feeling with just few days left to the start of COP17.
Molewa was in the city to attend a pre-COP meeting and address the media on the readiness of the South African delegation to the UN Climate Change meeting that starts next Monday.
The minister said the South African delegation had prepared immensely for the event but was experiencing a bit of "exam fever". But working with colleagues from around the globe has definitely eased some of the jitters.
She was extremely pleased with the rate at which South Africans had educated themselves about climate change.
Molewa said the words "climate change" were now being used on a daily basis. She said a few days ago when she was in rural areas in the Eastern Cape, people were talking about the global issue.
As the leader of the South African delegation to COP17, Molewa was confident that the team had done its work and would continue to do so in the next few weeks.
The delegation this year would focus on three preparatory work areas, with the first being the development, compilation, approval and lobbying of the South African negotiating position.
The second area is the coordination and implementation of greening and legacy projects that mitigates the impacts of climate change.
The Public Climate Change Outreach and Mobalisation Programme - aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of the issue - is the third area of focus.
Molewa also touched on the gazetted National Climate Change Response Policy, which outlines government's vision for an effective climate change response and transition to a climate resilient and low-carbon economy and society.
"As part of our programme, we have proactively engaged with domestic stakeholders to develop South Africa's position and policy, and on the basis of which we engaged with the African continent and other negotiating colleagues such as the BASIC countries," said Molewa.
The minister added that COP17 must provide opportunities for both South Africa and Africa to ensure climate change patterns did not threaten development.
"For Africa, the success of the climate change talks is central since it is projected that by 2080, about 70 million people and up to 30 percent of Africa's coastal infrastructure could face the risk of coastal flooding because of sea level rise.
"South Africa, carrying the aspirations of Africa and the developing world, hopes to succeed in keeping the Kyoto Protocol as part of a future climate regime, as we negotiate an outcome of the negotiations under the Convention."
