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    Images from the COPART climate fluency exchanges on trains.
The number of "extreme weather events" across the world just this year – from Australia, to Namibia, Iran, China and the United States - should cause all of us to sit up and think about human induced climate change and how to act before it is too late. Scientists predict that Africa would be the hardest hit by climate change impacts, but is the least equipped to deal with the consequences, such as displacement of communities, destruction of habitats, crop failures and food insecurity. According to Oxfam, Africa was responsible for 2.5% of cumulative carbon dioxide emissions in the 104 years between 1900 and 2004, while the US accounted for 29.5%. **

While scientists believe the Africa would the bear the brunt of the first onset of climate change disasters, countries on our continent are the least equipped to deal with these crises of unknown proportions. Many of them are also the most unequal in terms of both human and physical development and will therefore need more energy input than developed countries if we are to ensure that the negative consequences of systemic inequality does not exacerbate environmental destruction.

To further climate justice across the globe, but particularly for developing countries, Indalo Yethu, COPART, the British Council, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA) have partnered to get the wheels rolling with a Climate Train to amplify the call for broad participation by civil society ahead of critical international climate talks later this year in Durban. We also receive generous support from the National Lotteries Fund, the SA National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), lovelife and the German development Agency, GIZ.

Our call is aimed at mobilising a unified voice among South Africans and its neighbours for a binding legal agreement to be negotiated which would replace the 1995 Kyoto Protocol which lapses next year. We want you to make your voice heard in advance of this year's crucial United Nations climate talks in Durban.
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COP17 Climate Train Arrives In Durban
27 NOVEMBER 2011

 

The COP17 Climate Train was welcomed in Durban with a fanfare and a range of dignitaries Including National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) executive secretary Christiana Figueres and chief of the COP17 negotiations and EThekwini Speaker Rogie Naidoo.

Brass bands, Zulu dancers, diplomats, learners and prominent members of civil society rubbed shoulders on the platform to welcome the train and its team of workers and artists. They had crisscrossed South Africa in the last month to spread awareness to far-flung communities, who are often most vulnerable to climate change and its severe weather events.


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Climate Express Issue 2
17 NOVEMBER 2011


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Makhado
17 NOVEMBER 2011

The ClimateTrain has reached the most northern point of its journey across South Africa en route to COP17. The next two days at Makhado / Louis Trichardt train station also promise to be a high point in our engagement with local communities.

If anywhere near in Makhado please come enjoy the day with local and on board artists.

Deputy Environment Minister visits Climate Train on its journey through Mzsansi
16 NOVEMBER 2011

Climate change and its impacts have the potential to reverse our development gains since SA became a free country. We therefore believe it is important to have every person in this great nation of hope talking about climate change and collectively coming up with adaptation and mitigation solutions to respond to climate change.
As we host the United Nations COP17 in SA this year, we also want the entire nation to be seized with the issues that global leaders will grapple with. We want to hear the aspirations of our people in their own language to get a better deal for Africa in these negotiations. The Climate Train interactions with people in all these vast corners of SA helps us to facilitate this national conversation about climate change. - Deputy Minister of Water and Environment Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi


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GIZ photography competition completes Pretoria Round with inspiring quotes on climate change
15 NOVEMBER 2011

See the climate change statements by the participants ...

As 21 year old Lerato Semosa put it, "It takes a village to build a nation. It is in our hands as people to save our earth."

Fifteen youths from various townships of Pretoria participated in the climate change photo competition hosted in the climate train at Pretoria Station. They youths came from Soshanguve, Winterveldt and Marabastad. The first day soon revealed that most of them had very little understanding of climate change. However, after the third workshop day, all youths were able to express themselves about climate change, and shared their stories and ideas about what climate change means to them. As 21-year-old Lerato Semosa put it, "It takes a village to build a nation. It is in our hands as people to save our earth."

The new extended address for the photo competition is:
www.southafrica.diplo.de/photocontest

The specific link for the Pretoria round is:
https://southafrica.diplo.de/Vertretung/suedafrika/en/00/Photo__Contest/__VOTE__PTA.html


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© Indalo Yethu 2011