THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 10 2010 06:27 | LAST UPDATED Feb 10 2010 06:27

ADVERTISE WITH US | CONTACT US | STORY TIP-OFFS | M&G NEWSLETTER

News \| National \| Environment

Kortbroek strikes back at climate conference

YOLANDI GROENEWALD - Dec 12 2008 05:00

1 comment | Post your comment

South African Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Martinus van Schalkwyk immediately got tough with countries holding up negotiations when he arrived at the United Nations climate change conference in Poznan, Poland, this week.

"We are very disappointed with the attitudes of four countries, Australia, Japan, Canada and Russia. They are breaking their promises they committed to in Bali already and that is why we are being tough on them," he said.

He said the lacklustre attitude of the countries could be traced back to their immense fear for the growing economies of the developed world, and that they were playing for time.

Although no significant outcome is expected at Poznan to curb the world's carbon emissions, it was hoped that developed countries would have agreed in principle to targets to ease the tense negotiations expected next year in Copenhagen. The Copenhagen deal is expected to be even more significant than the Kyoto Protocol, which tied developed countries into curbing their carbon dioxide emissions. The new deal will ultimately shape the economy of the 21st century, because it will tell countries how to power their economies.

"The four countries are also reluctant to commit to any targets," said the tough talking South African minister.

"They are waiting to see what the incoming Obama-adminstration will do."

Van Schalkwyk resembles a lone cowboy riding into town to call the local scoundrels to order and in the conference halls his name was mentioned with awe.

Last year South Africa was instrumental in browbeating the United States into accepting a climate-change deal and this year he is leading the charge again to force the four wayward countries to put their cards on the table.

But the reality is that he might not be around come next year to see through the critical deal he and his team have invested in so heavily.

CONTINUES BELOW

Van Schalkwyk did not want to be drawn on this possibility, but his face resembled that of a four-year-old who had spent all his money on presents, and then told that Christmas might not come after all.

TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

People

Organisations

United Nations

Comments

Shame, Kortbroek and his advisors have not heard that there are honest scientists informing their goverments that climate change due to human activity such as carbon dioxide emissions is false and that global temperatures are in fact dropping slightly. Luckily Kortbroek's advisors will go with him next year.

Dr PieterI Bekker on December 14, 2008, 4:31 pm

You must be logged in to comment. Log in or sign up to comment

click here to log in

M&G Online Comment Guidelines In Brief

No hate speech;
No racist, sexist or homophobic remarks;
Keep it short;
Keep it on topic;
Show respect to all;
We reserve the right to remove or delete any comment without notice or reason.

Click here for the full Comment Guidelines

Advertising Links

Click hereÖ

Your M&G Online

Follow the Mail & Guardian on Twitter!

Direct message us on our mailandguardian account to chat to the M&G Online team.


		THIS WEEK'S PAPER Subscribe Subs promotions Get digital edition

Advertising links

OUDE MEESTER INSURANCE JUNCTION PROPERTY FOR SALE INTERNET SOLUTIONS COMPAQ LAPTOPS	MAP SEARCH HOLIDAY FINDER BID OR BUY INSURANCE YOU CAN TRUST