House Chair, the White Paper on climate change, formally published on 19 October 2011, has so far proven to be one step in the right direction. When the process of consultation and recommendations come to an end, we will hopefully have a solid legal framework to implement.
Cope supports the need to voice the concerns of Africa and to ensure that we leave Cop 17 with a legally binding agreement on a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. We are looking forward to a transparent multilateral process with excellent communication between all stakeholders.
We have to do our best to ensure that the unresolved issues discussed at the previous Cops are raised again at Cop 17, with great earnestness. By this time, we are confident that we have a good strategy and are all fully prepared for the negotiations that will take place in Durban.
The need to protect and articulate South Africa's national interest in the midst of the heated discussions is of the utmost importance. For this, we will be depending on the Minister of International Relations.
It is important to remind ourselves that despite the commitment to funding by the developed countries, Africa needs to develop self-reliance to safeguard and maximise the potential and the available technical, financial and human resources that could be at our disposal. We have to be sustainable in the way we move forward as Africans.
Most importantly, the after-effects of Cop 17 will stretch far beyond December 2011. The successful implementation of our climate change strategy starts with us as Members of Parliament. I think the hon Morgan has actually alluded to this. I think we need to start in Parliament. We spoke about the greening of our Parliament last year. I am not sure how far we are with that project. When one leaves this Parliament late at night, one finds that lights are on in many offices, and looking at the carbon that we actually emit in respect of the paper that we use in this Parliament, we are really not living up to what we are saying. Let us practice what we preach.
We will be exposed to a hub of new and interesting information. The majority of South Africans living in the rural and urban areas will not have access to this knowledge. It is our responsibility to take this information to the people - to our constituencies - and to further educate all South Africans on climate change.
Businesses, civil society and government all have to work together to successfully implement South Africa's vision for a greener future. Backing from businesses and required co-operation between the business sector and the state has to continue. Adaptation and mitigation need to be dealt with together, and this is most vital at local government level. Furthermore, communities need to have a sustainable and custom-made response on how to deal with the effects of climate change locally.
The changing environment presents job opportunities, which we must utilise. There must be beneficiation of our own resources, coupled with local manufacturing industries and skills development. More importantly, greater investment in research and development is required in the area of climate change. This must be an ongoing and ever-present process in order for future generations to benefit from such critical data.
Finally, I want to reiterate the important role that women play in fighting the effects of climate change. When you educate a woman, you educate the nation. Cope supports the Report.