Independent Newspapers

President Jacob Zuma and his Deputy Kgalema Motlanthe joined the Cabinet Members in green T-shirts showing their support to COP17 Conference which will be taking place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban from the 28th November to 09 December 2011.

COP17 fever kicked in yesterday as Kwa Zulu-Natal residents got a taste of the VIP drama that will unfold in the ensuing weeks.

Durban’s International Convention Centre has been declared a United Nations zone with the city centre and the area immediately around the ICC precinct completely closed to traffic from tomorrow to December 12.

Yesterday afternoon the city experienced its first COP17 traffic gridlock as delegates began arriving for registration, clashing with the peak month-end rush.

Thousands of extra police will be on alert and areas of King Shaka International airport have been cordoned off as hundreds of high profile delegates arrive for the biggest event yet hosted in the city.

While star-struck Durbanites are keen to catch a glimpse of Hollywood celebrities like Leonardo di Caprio and Angelina Jolie, officials were adamant yesterday that the showbiz A-listers will only arrive later in the week.

Rumours swirled yesterday that Jolie had flown in on Thursday night and although this couldn’t be confirmed, it was a sign of Durban’s eagerness to host more than 20 000 dignitaries, delegates and celebrities.

Leonardo di Capro, U2 frontman Bono and actor-turned-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger are expected to arrive, with billionaire businessman Richard Branson and CNN founder Ted Turner. Also on the guest list is World Bank president Robert Zoellick, former US vice-president Al Gore, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

A host of local celebrities and musicians are also expected to get their share of the environmental limelight.

At the first COP17 event, held yesterday at Paradise Valley, Mayor James Nxumalo said the city was ready to host a successful conference.

“We are not only grateful to be hosting the event, but I hope we can get some real decisions that will help benefit everyone in the world, not just here in Durban and South Africa.

“We are hoping this summit can find solutions to the issue of climate change and find ways to preserve this beautiful planet that we love,” he said.

Christina Figueres, executive secretary of the UN framework convention on climate change, is COP17’s highest ranking UN delegate and the keynote speaker at the launch of the Durban community ecosystem-based adaption (CEBA) at Paradise Valley yesterday, which kicked off a number of side events running during COP17. The aim of the CEBA project is to reduce climate change impact through carbon sequestration and emission reductions. The Durban CEBA initiative has been acknowledged as the official voluntary offset mechanism for COP17.

Figueres, a major role player in the decisions that will arise from the climate debates, said Durban had the opportunity to be a part of it with this practical project. - The Sunday Independent