17th International Conference on Climate Change (Durban, November 28-December 9, 2011)

A new stage in climate negotiations gets under way on Monday, November 28, in Durban. From November 28 to December 9, the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is bringing together 195 states-parties under the presidency of South Africa.

Cutting global emissions in half by 2050 is essential in order to keep climate change below the dangerous threshold of 2° C. To that end, France, working closely with its European partners, will act to ensure the full implementation of the decisions taken in Cancun, and in support of a legally binding international framework that will include all major emitters, bolstering the international response to climate change.

During the Council of Ministers on November 23, France reiterated its aim to see Durban constitute an important step in the fight against climate change.

The conference will begin with technical negotiation sessions and will wrap up with a segment at the ministerial level at which France will be represented by Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development, Transportation and Housing.

In addition to the negotiations, the Durban conference provides an opportunity to clarify Africa’s role in the fight against climate change, along with opportunities for new modes of development. To this end, France supports the development of action-oriented partnerships and will continue to promote the Paris-Nairobi initiative in support of access to clean energy, which it initiated with Kenya in April. The success of this African conference, whose approach combines climate, energy and development, will help us collectively begin an effective, equitable transition toward a green economy. Climate change does not concern only future generations. The extreme events that are growing even more intense remind us that climate change is already a reality and that we have a limited amount of time to make this transition.

A complete dossier on the challenges of this conference is available on the France Diplomatie website under the heading “Focus.”

 Durban Conference official website - COP17
 COP17 on the French embassy in South Africa website (in english)
 AFD - Agence Française de Développement website (in english)
 France, alongside its European partners, wants to do whatever is necessary to stave off the expected failure at Durban. Joint article by Alain Juppé and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet in the daily newspaper «Le Monde».(07.12.11)