Pretoria - Local government needs to play a leading role in stressing the importance to communities on the threat climate change has on the world.
"We need to impress on all our communities the threat climate change poses to our world and articulate the need to adapt and mitigate the ill-effects of climate change in our respective countries," said Ambassador at-large for the 17th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17) at the International Relations and Cooperation Department, Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko.
"There is a compelling need for all us to harness the knowledge garnered at COP17 and to share it with our various communities," she told delegates at the 5th India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) Local Government Dialogue on Climate Change in Pretoria on Sunday.
The country is preparing to participate in and host COP17 in Durban from 28 November to 9 December 2011.
Mxakato-Diseko, who was speaking on behalf of International Relations Minister Maite-Nkoana Mashabane, said the legacy of hosting COP17 should be judged by the manner in which countries and their cities will be able to sensitize their citizens about the very urgent challenges of climate change and what they will do to confront the challenge.
The role of Local Government was officially recognised in the history of the United Nations climate change negotiation process at the COP16 in Cancun. "In my view, this recognition of the important role played by local government is indeed timely. At the end of the day, it will be local governments that will be tasked to roll-out climate change projects to counter the threat and effects of climate change in tier respective constituencies," she said.
Mxakato-Diseko said any outcome at the COP17 in Durban has to be adequate enough to adhere to the principle of environmental integrity.
"In this context, the low level of ambition is a serious concern. Adaptation is another essential element of the outcome in Durban as it is key priority for many developed countries, least developed countries and Africa," she said.
The Ambassador said the current fragmented approach to adaptation must be addressed in a more coherent manner and give equal priority to adaption and mitigation.
Cabinet is hopeful that the COP17 in Durban will produce an outcome that is fair, balanced and equitable.
