30 November 2015
Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa and President Jacob Zuma are representing South Africa at the 21st Conference of the Parties (CoP 21) of the United Nations Framework for Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC), starting today.
CoP 21 is being held in Paris, France till 11 December. President Zuma will attend the Heads of State and Government segment today.
“South Africa has a special interest in doing all that it can to ensure the success of the Paris CoP,” the Presidency said.
For South Africa, a fair and ambitious, legally binding agreement would mark the successful conclusion of the mandate agreed to by consensus in Durban in 2011 during CoP 17 to enhance implementation of the existing convention, said Zuma.
“To be successful, the new agreement must be fair,” the Presidency said. “Fairness would imply respect for the convention’s principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.”
“The eyes of the world will be on #COP21 in Paris – and for good reason,’ says @UN Climate Chief, @CFigueres. https://t.co/3A11JGOxXd
— UN Climate Action (@UNFCCC) November 26, 2015
South Africa also has the special responsibility of advancing the collective and shared interests of developing countries in the negotiations for the Paris Agreement.
Click here to read South Africa’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution.
