Durban, eThekwini, 28 November to 9 December 2011

COP17 - the 17th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - will add some much-needed pace to South Africa's ‘Long Walk to Greendom'.
South Africa's future growth path takes place against the backdrop of several crucial aspects, including commitments made by its president. At COP15 in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009, President Zuma committed South Africa to reducing its emissions growth path from a ‘business as usual' track by 34% by 2020 and 42% by 2025.

In addition, he tasked the ‘green economy' with assisting Government create ‘tens of thousands of green collar jobs' in his State of the Nation Address earlier this year; 300 000 in the next 10 years to be precise. Both these must be achieved within the context of an industrial policy growth plan which is still heavily reliant on carbon-intensive industries supporting many jobs.
COP17 has its roots in the international treaty - the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - adopted by many nations over a decade ago to consider what could be done to reduce global warming and to cope with the inevitable incremental temperature increases.

More recently a number of nations approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful and legally binding measures. The major difference between the Convention and the Protocol is that the Convention encouraged industrialised countries to stabilise GHG emissions; the Protocol commits them to do so. It sets binding targets for 37 industrialised countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These amount to an average of 5% against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012.

At COP15, President Zuma also argued that the Convention should adopt a two-track negotiation process: one for these industrialised nations and another for developing nations, which would gradually move into developed country status.
The object is to advance, in a balanced fashion, the implementation of the Convention 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). Hosted By the Government of South Africa and taking place the International Convention Centre (ICC) and Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC), COP17 puts the spotlight on sustainability and is a major opportunity for South Africa to embrace ideals of the Convention, and plot its own path forward in terms of meeting President Zuma's pledges.

For South Africa, as well as other developing countries around the world, economic development, competitiveness and decent jobs are paramount concerns, not only at COP17, as vulnerability to climate change is a direct consequence of poverty."
SESSA will have a presence at COP17 in the Durban Exhibition Centre, and therefore would like to encourage its members and other companies active in sustainable energy fields - as well as consumers - to engage with it ahead of the event to add their concerns to the ‘green agenda' it will be taking to Durban.

The CCR Expo will comprise exhibitions of significant South African responses to climate change; opportunities to showcase and launch appropriate South African climate change responses, products or services; opportunities to seek financing for these; and conferences, workshops, briefings, seminars, concerts, theatre, performance art and debates aimed at deepening our understanding of climate change and our responses to it.

Enquiries: Irvan Damon. Tel. 011 513 4071 or email irv@sessa.org.za.

Relevant urls:

http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_17

http://www.cop17-cmp7durban.com/

http://www.sessa.org.za