Chairperson, it is an indisputable fact that climate change is the biggest challenge facing humanity in the 21st century. While the industrial revolution started 150 years ago, we are seeing its consequences today. As Yvo de Boer said:
The financial crisis is a result of our living beyond our financial means but the climate crisis is a result of our living beyond our planet's means.
Climate change specialists had the foresight to begin the process of preserving our planet, and one of the results was the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, which was adopted on 21 March 1994.
Yet another instrument, the Kyoto Protocol, was drafted in 1997 but was agreed to, in 2005, by 190 parties only. The main objective of this protocol is to achieve emission reduction targets. The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol will end in December 2012 and recent Conference of Parties, Cops, have become fixated on extending the second commitment period. The main challenge is that the developed countries are rather reluctant to compromise their national interests.
The eyes of the world are going to be fixed on Durban in 10 days' time. Hosting Cop 17 is expected to draw more participants than last year's Fifa World Cup. Our first and perhaps main challenge is to ensure that Durban will not be the graveyard of the Kyoto Protocol. First prize will be to get all 194 parties to agree to a second commitment. But if we can't do that, we must go for a full pronouncement. Adaptation has to be placed at the centre of Cop 17's outcomes, especially the establishment of an adaptation committee. Most importantly, we need to operationalise the Green Climate Fund. The annual G20 meeting, which took place in France last week, failed to find ways to finalise the Green Climate Fund. Right now, it's like a bank with no money.
South Africa is the 12 highest greenhouse gas emitter and Africa's highest. We don't look so good, so we have a responsibility ahead of us and we have to lead by example.
The UNFCCC fails to recognise gender aspects of climate change and point 18 of the declaration in the report that we are supporting today expresses the concern that, as a country, South Africa is considered to be a leader in gender equality but the South African government's dedication to climate change negotiations has not taken an active enough lead in gender mainstreaming at international forums and negotiations. The DA supports the Report of the National Consultative Seminar on Climate Change and wishes team South Africa every success at Cop 17.