World Climate Summit Opening Address: President Jacob Zuma, South Africa

Business and government are convened today to discuss their reaction the the reality of climate change.

President Zuma says:


"SA's COP17 President, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, is playing a key role in ensuring that climate change does not reach crisis levels, while developing countries can address poverty and economic social development at the same time. A fair, credible, balanced, integrated and inclusive regime needs to be established. Talks are going well but there are still a number of issues - normal during the first week of a COP...


"The start of the high-level segment next week will take place against the background of yet another economic crisis in the developed world, as well as Europe's woes that will affect especially the developing countries. Climate change, energy insecurity, poverty and youth unemployment emphasie the need for economic solutions that attend to the need of our planet.


"SA green economy is one in which business processes are reconfigured to deliver better returns on natural, human and economic capital investments, while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions, destructing fewer natural resources and creating less disparities. Developing green economies is not just about eco-ficiencies but also about social parity. Exclusion of the poor will trap them outside the cycle of development - green or not.


"In South Africa, it means the economic empowerment of the Black majority. For Africa, a green developing economy has to leapfrog the Continent from a mere producer, to a processor of raw agricultural and mineral materials into finished products.


"Today, we invite you [business] to partner with us to make this manufacturing capacity a reality. We are not waiting for an agreement in Durban before forging ahead with a green, economic and social reform drive in South Africa.


"There are immense opportunities in renewable energy, marine rehabilitation, recycling, rehabilitation of land, to mention a few for entrepreneurs in South Africa.


"We will shortly announce our final commitment to renewable energy incorporation in SA and will upscale this to 18 Gigawatt, accounting to 42% of electricity generation, in the next 20 years. SA renewable energy funding mechanism will be achieved with assistance of global partners, donors and governments who will provide innovative funding solutions to facilitate this process.


"Already, South Africa has signed a Green Economy Accord with business and labour, which underscores our agreed commitment to devising an inclusive green economy."


President Zuma exits - Christiana Figueres up next.