Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to undertake a Working Visit to Berlin, Germany, to participate in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue II: Rising to the Climate Challenge: 3 and 4 July 2011

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, will travel to Berlin, Germany, to co-host with Germany, the Petersberg Climate Dialogue II entitled: ” Rising to the Climate Challenge”, which will take place on 3 and 4 July 2011.

South Africa and Germany have jointly invited about 35 Ministers as well as their representatives and the chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol ( AWG KP), the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG LCA), Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advise (SBSTA)  and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) to the Petersberg Climate Dialogue II in Berlin.

The Petersberg Climate Dialogue II will focus on how the international community can advance collectively to find common ground on key issues while also operationalising decisions that have already been taken. It offers an opportunity for a political discussion in order to develop mutual understanding of what needs to be done in order to deliver a credible outcome in Durban at the COP17/CMP7.

It is also necessary that countries deliver on their commitments and communicate their plans and achievements in a transparent manner. Success with implementation could contribute to progress on other pressing issues such as the level of ambition of mitigation actions and equity. The Petersberg Climate Dialogue II therefore also focuses on major implementation issues relevant to all Parties. Collective action is needed.

The Petersberg Climate Dialogue II will have 4 sessions.  Session 1 sets the scene and the tone for the sessions to come. Session 2 will be centered around questions on possible ways to move forward on key issues in the run-up to Durban and on elements of a Durban outcome. The discussion will then focus on core themes such as mitigation and adaptation, finance, technology and capacity building. Session 3 will consider possible scenarios for the outcome. Session 4 will elaborate on deliverables and on how we should move strategically towards Durban. Minister Nkoana-Mashabane will co-chair the Petersberg Climate Dialogue with the German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Norbert, Minister Röttgen.

For further information please contact Mr. Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, on 082 884 5974.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
Private Bag x152
Pretoria
0001

1 July 2011