- Take the lead for climate justice, Zuma, was the message from Norwgian Church Aid and Norwegian YMCA-YWCA to the South African President. (Photo: Henriette Bjerke, Norwegian Church Aid)
Zuma discussed among other issues the upcoming UN summit on climate change, COP 17, in South Africa in a meeting with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre and Minister og Environment and Development Erik Solheim.
Take the lead
- Zuma must show leadership to get the best possible results at COP 17 in South Africa this year, says Ingrid Næss-Holm, climate change advisor at Norwegian Church Aid.
A strong and clear leadership from the Mexican government was decisive to get the relatively good result we got from the climate change summit in Cancun last year.
- 2011 is a crucial year. The Kyoto Protocol, the only international agreement to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, expires in 2012. We must see results from the climate change summit in South Africa this year to avoid to take several steps back in the work to stop global warming, says Næss-Holm.
Demands for emission cuts
Norwegian Church Aid's partner organisations in South Africa have asked President Zuma to set a good example and reduce South Africa's greenhouse gas emissions. Zuma must also stand beside the African countries in the climate negotiations, not beside the rich countries that historically have emitted the most. Norwegian Church Aid asks the Norwegian government to do the same.
- Norway has a particular responsibility because we got rich on fossil fuels. Norway also has the money to do something about it. Norway has to support the demands from the countries that are most affected by climate change, it's all about climate justice, says Næss-Holm.
Pan African campaign
Norwegian Church Aid and Norwegian YMCA-YWCA cooperates with partner organisations in several African countries on the interfaith climate change campaign "We Have Faith - act now for climate justice" which demands the world leaders to agree on a fair climate agreement that ensures adequate reductions in the world's greenhouse gas emissions and financing of climate change adaptation in Africa.
Contact:
Ingrid Næss-Holm, climate change advisor at Norwegian Church Aid, phone: +47 93 24 24 68
Ida Thomassen, communication advisor at Norwegian Church Aid, phone: +47 98 24 64 30