COP17 outside UN Precinct - all PR? Nope.

Having driven myself (in a small, energy-efficient mobile which, coincidentally, also boasts an electric version), I'm now at the World Cup legacy Moses Mabhida Stadium to catch the Sustainability event of FH client, BMW.

As an official vehicle supplier to the COP 17 climate summit, the 15 BMW 320d and 20 BMW 530d models fuel-efficient diesel models, 10 security vehicles and 5 emission-free e-mobility models were the subject of plenty hallway talk at yesterday's COP17 expo.



Nissan has also brought its Leaf electric models to COP17 and South Africa, I'm proud to say, is sporting its very own locally produced Joule electric car for the first time!

Having popped by all the COP17-related sites in Durban within 24 hours of arrival, I can safely confirm once you are three city blocks away from any event, you'd be unaware COP was on at all.

Not that there is a shortage of entertainment. There is a line-up of beach concerts, art displays and Greenpeace alternative energy displays to entice the general public in the climate change debate, and speaker's corner opposite the UN Precinct is now permanently vacated by OccupyCOP17 and greenie supporters - some are even former UN / COP delegates!

The halls bordering the ICC are reminiscent of a museum of sorts, massively displaying the remedial goodwill acts of SA's mining, oil, transport and banking giants. But luckily (for this unregistered delegate) the big NGO / business summits are now picking up, to culminate in the prestiguous WBCSD World Climate Summit this weekend 3-4 December, featuring the South African President Dr Jacob Zuma, Presiding COP President Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres among a host of others.

Back to the present: greatest two-bobs of news today:

·         The $30 billion Green Climate Fund has been signed off and half will constitute an Adaptation Fund (in plain English, the world’s developing nations most sensitive to climate-related stresses will share $15 billion to prepare for the worst and they’ll receive these funds – if the contract is honoured – by the close of 2012 latest).

·         Qatar is hosting COP18 (I’m glad for South Korea – their citizens need the $65 million+ more, methinks).

Time to prepare for the WWF / NBI "Towards a Green Economy" event at Nedbank Kingsmead Buidling this evening!