International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is confident that the city is ready to host the all-important international conference on climate change.

It's all systems go for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17), International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said recently after meeting with City officials to review the state of readiness for the conference in Durban.

Nkoana-Mashabane said: “We are working closely with Durban and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to ensure that we host an international event which meets UN requirements. As we have indicated over the past couple of weeks, we can proudly say that South Africa is ready to host this UN climate change conference.

“As an incoming COP President we have been undertaking informal consultations at ministerial, negotiators’ and stakeholders’ level to facilitate a credible outcome that is equitable, fair and inclusive. It is also important for us to confirm that in our preparations for COP17, we have been working closely with Mexico.

“We have just arranged a Leaders’ Dialogue on Climate Change on the margins of the UN General Assembly to get guidance from the Heads of State and Government,” she said.

Nkoana-Mashabane said that 20 000 people will travel to South Africa to attend the conference or to participate in various activities. There will be free-Visa entry for UNFCCC accredited attendees.

She said all other observers or delegates will follow normal visa procedures with OR Tambo International Airport being the major port of entry. Dedicated COP17/CMP7 lanes have been agreed upon with ACSA.
“Plans are in place to manage the increased capacity at OR Tambo, King Shaka International and Waterkloof Airports as well as Durban Harbour. Increased home affairs capacity has also been confirmed,” said Nkoana-Mashabane.

She said more than 6000 hotel rooms had already been booked and paid for and that the layout for the conference at the ICC and the Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC) has been finalised.
COP 17 will be held in Durban from November 28 to December 9.

Source: www.ethekwini.gov.za