17th Session of COP to the UNFCCC, with the 7th Session of the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, Durban - Main contents
| date | November 28, 2011 - December 9, 2011 |
|---|---|
| city | Durban, Durban, South Africa |
| location | Winston Churchill building (WIC)  |
| organisation | United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) |
On November 28th to December 9th 2011, the 17th Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 17 UNFCCC) shall take place in Durban (Republic of South Africa), with the 7th Session of the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol i.
As part of the Climate Convention, negotiations are held to enter into a global agreement concerning inter alia post-2012 reduction commitments, upon expiry of the Kyoto Protocol. Ever since the COP 13 in Bali, negotiations have taken on a new form in lieu of their separation into two negotiation paths, one of which focusing on a new global agreement, and the other on continuing the Kyoto Protocol, and setting up topical groups within the framework of those paths.
Today, given the limited progress in negotiating the agreement to outline activities to protect the climate after 2012, it is expected that only the RSA summit (COP 17), in the course of which Poland shall preside over the European Union Council, shall result in a new climate-related agreement. Poland, as the country holding the Presidency, shall thus be responsible in 2011 for the very difficult task of representing the European Union in the course of negotiations, the objective of which is to adopt a new agreement substituting or supplementing the Kyoto Protocol.
The meeting shall be attended by ministers of States - Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), by representatives of ministries competent in climate change in member states of the European Union, by representatives of the European Commission, by the Union's chief negotiators on climate change, and by representatives of other countries - Parties to the Climate Convention, including major global economies: USA, China, Japan, and Russia. Organiser: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Environment of the Republic of South Africa, Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Organiser for Poland: Ministry of Environment. Organiser contact details: Rafal Szymanski (Ministry of Environment), e-mail: rafal.szymanski@mos.gov.pl, tel.: +48 22 57 92 617.