South Africa prepares to host the UN climate summit and shape the global response to climate change

South Africa is anticipating the arrival of over 20,000 delegates from 194 countries for the much-heralded UN climate summit in Durban.

The 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) takes place at Durban's International Convention Centre from 28 November to 9 December.

According to a report from the South African Cabinet, the government is hopeful that the Durban event "will produce an outcome that is fair, balanced and equitable."

Among the many issues that the COP17/CMP7 will have to address, of particular importance is the operationalisation of the Cancun Agreements, including the establishment of the key mechanisms and institutional arrangements agreed to in Cancun, Mexico, at COP16/CMP6 in 2010. The Green Climate Fund represents a centre piece of a broader set of outcomes for Durban. The South African government is also keen to address the outstanding political issues remaining from the Bali Roadmap by finding a resolution to the issue of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol and agreeing on the legal nature of a future climate change system.

An essential element of the outcome in Durban is adaptation; as it is a key priority for many developing countries, particularly Small Island developing states, least developed countries and Africa.

According to the report, the government is satisfied that South Africa and, in particular, the host city of Durban, is ready to welcome around 20,000 delegates representing 194 governments and representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations. Logistical arrangements are in place, including the venue, security, transportation, accommodation and communication technology.

Climate change has become "the most pressing sustainable development issue of our times,"said International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, at the 50-day countdown to COP17 event in October.

While acknowledging that finding consensus will not be easy, she said, "there is a resurging sense that agreement and progress in Durban are possible if parties are willing to shoulder their responsibilities and properly fulfil their leadership roles."

Durban offers an ideal opportunity to shape the future global response to climate change, said the Minister. "We all feel the impacts of climate change in the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, coastal erosion and flooding as a result of rising sea levels, increase of the occurrence of certain diseases, loss of biodiversity and economic impacts, and an increase in the number of environmental refugees,"

There are high expectations of global leaders when it comes to global change, said the Minister. "It is therefore our duty ... to spare no effort to make sure those parties to the convention find common ground and that they are able to agree on a fair, transparent and credible outcome we all want."

African negotiators should make it their priority to secure a deal that promotes food security in order to ensure that climate change did not wreak further havoc on the continent, is the plea of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network CEO, Lindiwe Sibanda.

The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network is an autonomous, regional, stakeholder-driven policy research, analysis and implementation network that was established in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) in 1997.

Speaking about her organisation's "No agriculture, no deal" campaign for COP 17, Sibanda said commitments made at the previous summit in Cancun, Mexico had to be affirmed.

"We are grateful that COP 17 is taking place on the African continent. Now we want African negotiators to come out of this gathering with a responsible, binding climate change deal on agriculture. Agriculture is the backbone of Africa's economy, so we will use all our power to ensure that agriculture is put on the centre stage at the COP 17."