South African Climate Action Network

COP15 – the crucial conference The ambition of the Danish government is that the COP15 conference in Copenhagen will result in an ambitious global agreement including all the countries of the world.

The UNFCCC is an international treaty, initiated at the 1992 Earth Summit, under which about 190 countries have committed to action and cooperation on climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Convention sets no mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions by any of its parties, but includes provisions for adopting "protocols" that contain legally binding commitments.

The Kyoto Protocol, agreed in 1997, sets limits on the greenhouse gas emissions of the most developed (industrialised) countries, as listed in Annex 1 of the Convention, for the period 2008 to 2012. It also provides for ‘flexible mechanisms’ to facilitate meeting commitments, including the Clean Development Mechanism to support sustainable development and mitigation activities in developing countries (non-Annex 1). The USA and Australia withdrew from the Protocol in 2001, but in 2004 Russian ratification brought the number of countries and amount of global emissions represented up to the required level. The Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005, with South Africa one of 170 countries that have ratified it.

South Africa, recognised as a Developing Country, is not yet obliged to accept emission limits or reduction targets, However, absolute limits are not the only means to contribute to climate change mitigation. Sustainable Development Policies and Measures (SDPAMs) to promote low-carbon economic growth, such as aggressive energy efficiency programs, promoting local solar water heating industries, use of local renewable resources to raise living standards in rural areas and reducing deforestation all help to meet the common commitment to mitigate climate change.