Extreme weather conditions had "welcomed” delegates to the United Nations Climate Conference (COP17) being held here in Durban, for those who arrived last week, instead of experiencing the much talked about Durban sun, they endured flash rainfall which were reported to have reached 62.7 millimetres in some areas. This almost seemed like an ominous sign of things to come.
However, nothing could dampen the excitement of attending my very first international conference on climate change. Although there had been many pre-conference activities around the city, for me Friday, November 25th was the highlight. This is because it marked the beginning of my diary as a “green reporter”. I was among the hundreds of young people who attended the dynamic conference of the youth (COY7) on climate change.
I was also privileged to witness some of the organisations participating at the conference setting up their exhibition stands on North Beach Durban, we watched in awe as a large pile of wood transform into a life size Baobab tree, with fairy lights powered by bicycle kinetic energy, including the now infamous solar-tent by Greenpeace. Both exhibits creating awareness on the use of clean renewable energy.
On the eve of the COP17 official opening, world faith leaders held a rally under the theme ‘Climate Justice Now’. The rally was also attended by, among other prominent figures, the UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Christina Figueres, COP17 president and South Africa”s Minister of International Relations Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu also of South Africa.
Christina Figueres warned that that this is the most complicated negotiations the world has seen and that Durban will be a stepping stone in the right direction to curb dangerous climate change.