The 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Climate Change Conference is held in Durban, South Africa this year. Shortened to COP17, this conference addresses climate issues affecting countries across the globe. Efforts to regulate global impact on the environment began with the World Climate Conference and led to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the implementation of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. In 1995, the first Conference of Parties, COP1, was held in Berlin and since its establishment the UNCCC has made large steps toward addressing global climate change issues. The biggest impact these conferences have had is the establishment of the Kyoto Protocol.
The Kyoto Protocol was established in hopes of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Specific provisions of the Protocol call for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane, sulphur hexafluoride and nitrous oxide as well as the reduction of products and procedures that emit hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons. 191 countries have signed and ratified the Protocol, excluding the United States, the only signatory not to approve of the Protocol. American leaders have chosen not to sign the protocol because the restrictions would adversely affect America’s economy.
This year in the 17th Conference of Parties countries are aiming to advance implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, the Conventions, the Bali Action Plan, and the Cancun Agreements. A student from Point High School, the school in South Africa that I attended the fall semester of my senior year, was invited to present at the conference. Chuma Magusha and another student in the Eden District Municipality’s Youth Climate Change Knowledge Exchange will discuss adaptation and mitigation of climate change in the Mossel Bay area, and greening initiatives at their schools. Hopefully the leadership ability displayed in these young high school students will mean a brighter history for political reform in South Africa.
Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
God Bless Africa