The South African government is hosting the 2011 annual UN-led international climate change talks – negotiations that seek to shape the future architecture of the global climate change regime. This is one of the most politically divisive and complex areas currently under discussion within the multilateral context. South Africa has an important task in moving the discussions forward. Reconciling its domestic climate agenda with that of the region, while simultaneously pushing an ambitious international climate agenda, will be challenging. However, good preparation and communication, focus on an inclusive, transparent and multilateral process, and an emphasis on substance will assist South Africa in working towards a successful outcome for the climate summit.

The policy recommends:

South Africa should use its leadership position as incoming president and chair of COP 17 to the UNFCCC to champion countries to support African agency, keeping vulnerable people and development concerns at the centre of the debate
the South African COP presidency should learn from previous climate meetings that upholding the principles of multilateralism, transparency and the inclusion of non-governmental actors in the discussions are central to the overall success and legitimacy of COP 17
South Africa needs to consolidate its own competing national priorities and interests with others in the region, for example the African OPEC members, SIDS, densely forested states and those reliant on agriculture, and work alongside African Union member states in strengthening their common voice
South Africa should lead by example and illustrate concrete mitigation progress at national level