Will COP17 Sustain our Africa?

Post-COP17 Holiday Break Reflection #1

It is now nearly a fortnight since Durban adieu'd 12,500 new visitors. The indigestion of hastily consuming COP17 accords has eased into nutritious comprehension. South Africa has added a 15th public holiday to its 2011 calendar.

But what will Africa's brothers and children - 80% of whom rely on their mothers and sisters for subsistence farming food supply - say about COP17 this festive season?

Photo courtesy
http://thegreentimes.co.za/media/k2/items/cache/51fccc7d7519fea84c85898572d90843_XL.jpg

COP17 Africa, as it has been dubbed, gave us ordinary Africans a great arena - way beyond the usual indaba where politicians seek the lowest common denominator in the name of democracy. The addition of bright scientific minds and ultra-radical environmentalists ensured a convergence of thoughts and debate, which got us to begin comprehending the complexity and urgency of the situation we are in.

 

It is as COP17 President and SA's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana Mashabane, said: “If the African continent is viewed as one unit, it will help governments make better choices.”

 

Perhaps because Africa has so much to lose from bad behaviour post-COP17, I am honoured to play a small part in the upcoming all-African SUSTAIN OUR AFRICA conference that will take place in the Mother City (Cape Town) next year in May.

It is my #1 Reflection Time wish that Sustain our Africa will enable Africans to see the forest for the trees – as Africa and its dependents will be severely impacted by climate change. It is our responsibility as Africans to help save our Continent in 2 ways:

- firstly: by influencing our governments to make the right policy decisions to ensure a sustainable future;

- secondly: by adapting our personal habits towards a more climate-smart future.

This at a time that NASA satellites see Africa on fire from space and Lake Chad (a water source on which seven African countries rely) is only a fifth of its size back in 1971...

Photo courtesy of http://thegreentimes.co.za/media/k2/items/cache/3d105248b10b0d962a881701f9482c8d_XL.jpg.