The Climate Change summit 2009, aimed at launching the policy process translating Cabinet’s climate change policy decisions and directives into fiscal, regulatory and legislative packages, as well as sectoral implementation plans, will take place from March 3 to March 6, at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng.

The summit could accommodate only 600 delegates and registration is through the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (Deat) website, and would close on February 20.

The purpose of the summit is to provide all key climate change response stakeholders with an update on the most recent climate change research and other current South African initiatives and interventions, and provide a platform for all key climate change response stakeholders to discuss and agree the framework for a National Climate Change Response Policy.

By the end of the summit, it is hoped that the roles and responsibilities of sector departments in respect of the development of the sector policy components is agreed, all policy development timelines and milestones are agreed, and the implications and intentions of all policy directions are understood.

The summit would be cohosted by Deat, and the Department of Science and Technology, following the July 2008 Cabinet Lekgotla, where it was decided that a policy development programme was required for the development of the National Climate Change Response Policy.

The South African government regards climate change as one of the greatest threats to our planet and to our people. The government also believes that climate change, if unmitigated, also has the potential to undo or undermine many of the positive advances made in meeting South Africa’s own development goals and the Millennium Development Goals.

The National Summit will involve the key government departments, industry, labour, nongovernmental organisations and others.

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