It contains an implicit recognition of both the vulnerability of poorer countries to the effects of climate change and the right of poorer nations to economic development.

The Paris agreement will be the culmination of a four-year negotiation process initiated at COP-17 in Durban in 2011. SA has played, and will continue to play, a prominent role in attaining a legal instrument that will be applicable to all countries from 2020.

In preparation for Paris, parties agreed to submit Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) by this month. By submitting our INDC well ahead of the October 1 deadline, we have once again demonstrated this government’s political will to deal with climate change, which poses one of the most serious threats to our long-term sustainable development, economic growth and quality of life.

Our climate-change response balances making a fair contribution to the global effort to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations with consideration of our economic and social developmental needs.

Our INDC is ambitious, fair and pro-development and takes into account SA’s triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment. It is the outcome of an intensive and extensive nationwide public participatory process.

Available at: http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/2015/10/09/sa-ready-for-paris-climate-change-summit