It took a call from French President Nicolas Sarkozy last week to convince South African President Jacob Zuma to attend the climate-change talks in Copenhagen.
Sarkozy wants Zuma to join forces with France and Brazil in pledging a reduction by 2050 of carbon emissions to half the 1990 levels.
Earlier reports said Zuma would not attend the summit, which will host more than 90 world leaders.
Why on earth Zuma thought he could get away with shunning the conference is anyone’s guess — perhaps he figured there were enough negotiators there already. However, the country’s message does need to come from the top — after all, that’s why he was elected.
Perhaps making up for lost time, Zuma then fired off a speech in Lusaka this week, rallying African leaders and telling them to stand firm in their demands that poorer countries need to receive funds to meet emissions targets.
South Africa has offered to slash the growth of its emissions by 42% by 2025, if adequate finance and technological help is forthcoming. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement this week that wealthy nations should devote 0,5% to 1% of their GDP per year, by 2020, to help poorer nations cope with climate change.
South Africa is 14th-largest producer of emissions in the world, due to the country’s reliance on coal. Zuma plans to escalate efforts to produce energy from renewable sources, such as solar and wind power.
According to a joint draft document this week, China, Brazil, South Africa and India want a climate treaty wrapped up by June next year. The four major emerging economies are responsible for about 30% of global carbon emissions.
The draft did not specify how far rich countries should cut greenhouse gases by 2020.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s plans for establishing pebble-bed modular reactors appear to be dead in the water and will be hard pressed to meet any kind of emissions target by relying on the wind and the sun.
| FULL SPEED AHEAD |
NOT SO FAST |
 Frene Ginwala
The ANC lost no time in lashing out at Frene Ginwala this week after the former speaker of Parliament criticised Zuma’s approval of certain salary increases for government officials. The party said her “blinding pettiness is indeed astounding”. The truth hurts.
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 Tiger Woods
Golf aside, he’s made his money out of his squeaky-clean image. He’s become the butt of a thousand jokes and his image lies in tatters. Can he claw his way back? |
Most-read stories
December 3 to 9 2009
1. Zuma’s R65m Nkandla splurge
President Jacob Zuma is expanding his remote family homestead at Nkandla in rural KwaZulu-Natal for a whopping price of R65-million — and the taxpayer is footing the largest chunk of the bill.
2. Fit for a president
The home base of President Jacob Zuma is set for a major overhaul with plans under way to make the Nkandla compound a residence fit for a president. During a visit by the M&G, construction workers were working overtime to ensure that the president and his three wives will soon live in luxury.
3. Selebi spy’s paranoid world
A former police intelligence boss has dropped a bombshell in the middle of Jackie Selebi’s corruption trial, alleging that Selebi’s prosecutor is part of a ‘judicial mafia” trying to subvert the state.
4. Presidency spins Nkandla exposé
The Presidency on Thursday issued a press statement outlining details of a hitherto secret expansion of President Jacob Zuma’s family compound at Nkandla.
5. Degrees out of sync with jobs
South African graduates do not have the competence in spoken and written English or the oral presentation skills required by employers, according to the findings of a pilot study conducted by Higher Education South Africa (Hesa), the university sector’s leadership organisation and the South African Qualifications Authority.
6. Tiger linked to 10 women as questions mount
Tiger Woods is now on the inward nine when it comes to women claiming relationships with the golf superstar in the wake of his apology for “personal sins” and “transgressions” that hurt his family.
7. ANC lashes out at Ginwala
Frene Ginwala’s comments on salary hikes for government officials displayed “astounding” and “blinding pettiness”, the office of the ANC chief whip said on Sunday.
8. The case against Simelane
The General Council of the Bar (GCB) is investigating 17 complaints against newly appointed prosecutions boss Menzi Simelane, including allegations published in the Mail & Guardian a year ago.
9. South Africans go searching on Google for …
Which politician did most South Africans search for in 2009? If you’re thinking President Jacob Zuma after his busiest political year to date, think again. Nelson Mandela is still the number one politician South Africans type into their Google search boxes.
10.
Canada’s climate shame
When you think of Canada, which qualities come to mind? The world’s peacekeeper, the friendly nation, a liberal counterweight to the harsher pieties of its southern neighbour?