Climate camp to oppose port expansion

These United Nations climate change conferences held annually since 1995 are a meeting of COP countries to discuss climate change and evaluate the ways in which the issue is being dealt with in terms of the Kyoto Protocol (an accord signed by certain countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions).

COP 19 will be held from 11 to 22 November in Poland, with the People’s Climate Camp taking place from Thursday to Sunday, 14 to 17 November.

The camp aims to resist Durban port developments, in relation to dirty energy and climate change. “The proposed Durban port development, and in particular the dug-out port, is set to displace small, local farmers and their workers, affect the broader South Durban community socio-economically and environmentally, and to severely contribute to climate change,” said Megan Lewis, media, information and publications manager for groundWork.

“In response to this and the broad scale pollution across the country, community groups from pollution hotspots in KZN, the Vaal Triangle and the Highveld are holding this camp, which will highlight the failure of these international UN climate negotiations and protest the expansion of dirty energy in South Africa. It will provide a platform for people to articulate views on climate and energy justice on the way to the ‘people’s pre-CoP’ in Venezuela in September 2014.”

Environmental activists from groundWork, South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) and Earthlife Africa, Durban will demonstrate their opposition to the expansion of Durban’s port and petrochemicals hub.

Participants at the camp will look at other options in a gathering on Friday, out of which they will develop a ‘people’s declaration’ and energy alternatives and sustainable living options will be showcased in an alternatives fair on Saturday. Both these meetings are open to the public and will take place at the Eco Park (55 Grays Inn Road).

– erinh@dbn.caxton.co.za