The South African delegation appears to be missing in action.
It’s day three of the COP and despite my efforts to engage them, they seem to be lying low somewhere at the Moon Palace.
This is quite odd, especially since the participant list, which became available this morning suggest that the halls should be teaming with South Africans.
In the open plenary sessions the South Africans have been conspicuously quiet. Our delegates weren’t visible at the reception party on Monday evening either. Given that the reception was a fairly riotous affair complete with live mariachi band and free tequila, I don’t hold this against them. Instead I will assume that they chose to get over their jet lag so as to be wide awake for the hard work ahead of them, rather than party into the wee hours.
Internationally, a great deal of pressure is being placed on our country to lead the way towards a legally binding global climate deal. South Africa is considered to be a bridge builder between developing and developed countries and a source of clever ideas in the negotiating process. Add to this the fact that South Africa will be hosting the next COP and you get a large burden of responsibility placed squarely on the shoulders of our negotiating team.
However, they haven’t been particularly visible in the corridors, lunch areas or halls either.
Thus far, I’ve been warmly welcomed into the fold of the Malawian delegates, and chatted extensively with the Zambian delegates. The delegates from our neighbouring countries are extremely enthusiastic about the Adopt a negotiator project, going so far as to ask if could please track them. So where are the South Africans?
They’re so scarce I’d swear they’re avoiding me by lurking behind the venue’s sculpted hedges.
Hopefully, their scarcity means that they are working the huddles that are inevitable during these meetings and are building strong relationships with the right delegations. Perhaps they’re sequestered in a room somewhere, conjuring up brilliant ways to build the foundations of a climate deal and make COP16 a success.
I certainly hope so, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
To see the participants list go to http://unfccc.int/documentation/documents/advanced_search/items/3594.php?such=j&keywords=%22lists+of+participants%22#beg
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Kyle Meenehan
About the author
Laura Tyrer is a climate-change activist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has an honours degree in philosophy, with a particular interest in environmental ethics. As a former journalist, Laura is seeking to highlight the broad spread of considerations that need to be taken into account in Africans climate change agenda.
