ROLE OF GOVERNMENT:

TOWARDS BUILDING CONSENSUS

NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE SEMINAR ON CLIMATE CHANGE

28-29 NOVEMBER 2011

OVERVIEW

1. PERSPECTIVE OF NEGOTIATIONS

2. IN THE RUN-UP TO THE CONFERENCE

3. HOW GOVERNMENTS CAN CONTRIBUTE

4. DURING THE CONFERENCE

1. PERSPECTIVE OF NEGOTIATIONS[1]

• The international regime for climate change is guided by the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol

• Parties meet annually, under the auspices of Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC (CoP) and the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP)

• The CoP/CMP has a representation of Member States, Observer States and Observer Organisations, with ONLY member states engaging in negotiations

1. PERSPECTIVE OF NEGOTIATIONS [2]

• Observer Organisation comprise of UN Bodies, IPU for Parliaments, Civil Society, ITU for Labour, etc, increasingly having a significant influence as the role of public diplomacy is increasing in a globalised world

• The highest decision making bodies are the CoP and the CMP, and they consider decisions presented by AWG-LCA and AWG-KP, Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological advice (SBSTA) (6 bodies meeting)

• The CoP President is elected on the first day and presides over the CoP/CMP, as such 6 simultaneous meetings that will result in decisions under each of these bodies

2. IN THE RUN-UP TO THE CONFERENCE [1]

• The Convention makes provision for two intersessional meetings, even though additional meetings can be agreed to by parties, as was the case this year. In 2011,• The first intersessional meeting held in April, Bangkok deliberated

on the mandate for negotiation as to whether its Bali or Cancun, compromise was setting an agenda that covers both the Cancun elements and the Bali Action Plan

• The second meetings held in in June, Bonn saw slow progress on technical issues while the more central and difficult aspects of the Cancun or Bali decisions did not progress as well

• The third meeting was in October in Panama where the focus was on generating negotiating text for Durban, with text ranging from being compilation of views, facilitators notes and negotiation text

2. IN THE RUN-UP TO THE CONFERENCE[2]

• Parallel to the ‘formal’ negotiations in the intersessionals, the CoP/CMP Presidency undertake ‘informal consultations’ to muster political convergence; South Africa undertook several consultations, in Berlin, New Zealand, South Africa, New York in 2011

• Other forums do deal with issues of climate change and also assist in making progress in the formal negotiations, such as G20, Major Economies Forum, and a number of sector specific international forums

• South Africa negotiates as part of the Africa Group, and coordinated with the BASIC group, where areas of convergence are explored towards a common position

2. IN THE RUN-UP TO THE CONFERENCE[3]

South Africa

• In the formal process, the contribution from various arms of government pertain to supporting the development a position for the country hence influence groups we negotiate as part of, sector departments availing specialist negotiators (particularly IMC depts.)

• Contributing to stakeholder groupings such as International Parliamentary Union, International Trade Unions, Local Government take positions as Observer Organisations that are taken heed by Parties

• Continuous engagements in political forums by various government departments participate in, such as SADC, AU, BRICS, Binational Commissions, etc

3. HOW CAN GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTE[1]

• Espousing the South African position in the informal engagements, and seek convergence at various forums such as: Finance at the G20 Ministerial; Energy at the International Energy Agency; Transport at International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), etc

3. HOW GOVERNMENT CAN CONTRIBUTE [2]

4. DURING THE CONFERENCE [1]

• First week in Durban is the negotiators meeting, with the Chief Negotiator continuously engaging with: (i) negotiators delegation daily (ii) broader South African delegation every three days (iii) stakeholder groups every other day

• The second week is a Ministerial segment, where various Ministers of the IMC shall be engaging in the negotiations following various thematic areas coordinated by the Leader of the National Delegation- Minister of Water and Environment

• ALL ARMS OF GOVERNMENT HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN MOBILISING CONSENSUS THROUGH THEIR STAKEHOLDER GROUPINGS

THANK YOU