Molewa said an effective global solution to the climate change crisis involves the negotiation of delicate balances and trade-offs between a wide range of extremely complex, highly political and sometimes conflicting set of social, economic and environmental development issues.
“South Africa needs a strengthened international climate regime that ensured global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with what is required by science. We need to ensure that the impacts of climate change do not undermine development in our own country, the African continent and the world at large," she said.
During COP17 held in Durban, South Africa last year, nations agreed and set targets for including working for greater climate change action and taking concrete steps to fill the gaps in the international policy response to climate change COP18 which is currently underway.
These outcomes, which followed a three-pronged approach, include implementing urgent action from 2013 to 2020 and the adoption of a second Commitment Period under the Kyoto Protocol and a number of institutional mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund, having acknowledged the inadequate commitments to reduce emissions made to date, a work programme was agreed to in an effort to increase current pre-2020 levels of ambition; and lastly action for the future with the negotiation of a legal agreement for the period beyond 2020.
The Durban Platform or the Ad hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action was established during COP17, which is tasked to, among others, take the next steps necessary to negotiate a global climate change agreement to be adopted by 2015, and to enter into force from 2020.
The minister said it is the responsibility of Doha negotiations to decide on how to deal with all issues that do not find satisfactory resolution by the end of 2012.
“However, what is clear is that all the necessary arrangements for mitigation and finance are clarified in Doha, including operationalising all agreed to institutions," said Molewa.
Molewa’s deputy, Rejoice Mabudafhasi who is also in Doha for the talks said as a country South Africa has hosted and attended so many international meetings, developed many policies and strategies, established many governance structures, but still have to do more in the implementation of programmes and projects benefiting ordinary women on the ground, and sharing information with them and get their views.
Mabudafhasi said the Network of Women Ministers and Leaders in Environment (NWMLE) has adopted a Declaration on Gender and Climate Change that will be presented during COP18 in Doha, Qatar.
She is the co-chair of NWMLE together with the Sweden's Minister of Environment, Lena Ek. NWMLE was formed in Helsinki, Finland, in 2002 has a mandate to ensure that women are empowered in order for them to actively participate in environmental management, opportunities for economic growth, eradication of poverty and job creation.
The overall objective of the network is to promote gender responsive sustainable environmental management at regional and global levels and enhance representation and involvement of women in decision making areas of environment and sustainable development at all levels.
During the meeting, the network also finalised the framework of its performance, looked at its achievements, reflected on its challenges and discussed a programme of action to address the challenges.
"At COP17 the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, in conjunction with our Environmental Education Wing, Indalo Yethu and other partners prior to COP17, implemented the Climate Train," she said.
The Climate Train travelled through 16 villages, towns and cities and was used as a platform to continue a national conversation about climate change with people on the outskirts of the country.
It also provided an opportunity for women to talk about the impact of climate change and to share their knowledge and experiences about the impact of climate change.
Also in attendance was Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, and founder of the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Change Justice who described the NWMLE as the most consistent and strongest networks around women and climate change.
"The NWMLE is the strongest network of women; it's making a difference and is consistent. Women are the agents of change when it comes to women. Networks like these are important in pushing the agenda," she said.
Women attending the NWMLE also expressed the need to have gender issues discussed in the main agenda of conferences and not treated as a side event or issue.
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