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Source: http://www.businessday.co.za/
Johannesburg — THE government nominated Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk yesterday to succeed United Nations (UN) climate chief Yvo de Boer, who announced his resignation last month.
If appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Van Schalkwyk will face the onerous task of achieving a global climate agreement before 2012 when the commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol ends.
Regarded as a skilled negotiator, his ability to bridge the gap between the developed and developing world will be important, especially after the climate summit in Denmark in December failed to make significant progress towards an agreement.
Talks later this year in Cancun, Mexico, are not expected to make much progress on the Copenhagen talks. It will fall to SA as the host of the climate summit late next year to secure a binding agreement, adding to the pressure on De Boer's successor.
Van Schalkwyk's nomination follows several approaches by governments, nongovernmental organisations and business institutions from the developing and developed world regarding his availability to head the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change after De Boer leaves on June 30.
The only other contender seems to be Indian Environment Secretary Vijay Sharma, who has support from India and China but not from the developed world.
President Jacob Zuma met Van Schalkwyk at the weekend to discuss the importance of achieving a binding climate agreement and SA playing a role in global climate talks before announcing his nomination yesterday. "In his portfolio as minister of environmental affairs and tourism, Minister van Schalkwyk positioned SA as a true climate champion," the Presidency said. "During this period he commanded significant respect across the developing/developed country divide.
"This will stand him in good stead in this critical phase of driving the global climate change negotiations to conclusion," the Presidency said.
Van Schalkwyk played an important role in drawing a road map in Bali two years ago that framed the climate negotiations in Copenhagen.
"Given that SA will also be hosting and presiding over the climate change negotiations next year, on the eve of the coming into force of a new global climate change regime, it would indeed be an honour and privilege for the country to have one of its own to head up this very important UN institution," the Presidency said.
Greenpeace Africa, the Worldwide Fund for Nature and environmental consultancy Imbewu all welcomed Van Schalkwyk's nomination. While his nomination has been broadly welcomed, if Van Schalkwyk is appointed, SA will lose a competent tourism minister who has worked hard in the past year to propel growth in the industry.
"I am honoured that the government has forwarded my name for consideration by the UN secretary-general to head this important UN institution and I await the UN secretary-general's decision in this regard," Van Schalkwyk said yesterday. "However, the challenge in the tourism industry, and more specifically the World Cup, remain priorities and I will continue to work to make this a success."
If appointed, Van Schalkwyk will leave behind a well-run department.
He is expected to sign off on a strategy for the tourism sector in the next month or two. The document will provide his successor with a road map of how the industry will create more jobs and increase its contribution to the economy. Van Schalkwyk consulted widely on the strategy and will have the buy-in of both the private and public sectors, paving the way for smooth implementation.
Source: http://www.businessday.co.za |
