COP 17 Conference Begin in Durban

The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) begins today and Joburgers are urged to show their support by wearing green.


WHETHER it’s a cap, a T-shirt or even a Bok jersey, Joburg residents are encouraged to wear green in support of the forthcoming 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) taking place in Durban from 28 November to 9 December.

COP17 - CMP7 Durban

“I urge Joburg residents to wear a green shirt in support of the COP 17 meeting,” said the City’s director of air quality and climate change, Barney Kgope, who explained that COP 17 was a negotiation between developing and developed countries to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.


Representatives of the world’s governments, international organisations and civil society are attending the gathering, the 17th annual Conference of the Parties. The discussions will seek to advance the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, as well as the Bali Action Plan, agreed at COP 13 in 2007 and the Cancun Agreements reached at COP 16 last December.


In preparation for COP 17, the City worked together with several big organisations to host events that will provide a platform for local government to discuss issues concerning climate change. With the theme “Mobilising citizens to act now to secure a smart city”, several campaigns aimed to educate and engage people about climate change have also been held by the City.


In terms of the effects of climate change on South Africa, recent studies predict that it will result in the increased incidence of drought and floods, with prolonged dry spells being followed by intense storms.


Over the next century, this warming trend and changes in precipitation patterns are expected to continue and be accompanied by a rise in sea levels and increased frequency of extreme weather events.






Source: http://www.joburg.org.za/index.php?