South Africa and Australia signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to cooperate on climate-change issues, the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism said.
”South Africa and Australia are at comparable latitude in the southern hemisphere and consequently have similar climatic conditions and similar challenges due to climate change,” Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said in a statement.
Joint activities are envisaged in agriculture, biodiversity, greenhouse gas-emissions reporting and monitoring, exchanging experiences and lessons with a focus on clean-coal technologies.
Participation by business, industry, NGOs and the scientific community will be facilitated and encouraged.
Joint activities will be identified, developed and implemented. This will be done in accordance with domestic laws and regulations, available resources and avoiding duplication of other bilateral activities.
The cooperation will initially take place for three years.
Van Schalkwyk signed the letter with Australian counterpart Senator Ian Campbell. Officials from both countries will continue to develop and implement joint activities. — Sapa