The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) is to be hosted in Durban from 28 November to 9 December this year at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and the Durban Exhibition Centre. COP 17 will provide South Africa with an opportunity to showcase its successful and progressive greening projects, some of which are firsts for Africa.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty arising from the UN’s Conference on Environment and Development. The treaty aims to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions so as to minimise their impact on earth’s climate. COP is the governing body of the Convention, and advances the implementation of the Convention through its decisions taken at annual meetings since 1995. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was introduced with binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Debate and conflict around the role of developing and developed countries continue against the backdrop of a worldwide recession.
Most of the 194 member states of the UNFCCC will be represented at COP17. In addition, COP is also a "collecting point" for activists for a healthy environment, and tens of thousands of them are expected to descend on Durban.
OBJECTIVES
The City of Tshwane is a world leader in terms of its programmatic approach to the clean development mechanism (CDM). So with COP17 being staged in South Africa, the City has a unique opportunity to draw international attention.
During COP17 the City of Tshwane aims to achieve the following:
To showcase the City of Tshwane as a visionary, innovative city to investors and businesses, and attract citizens.
• To highlight the City of Tshwane’s commitment to addressing climate change through various innovative methods implemented in Tshwane
• To position the City of Tshwane as an institution contributing towards a clean and green earth
• To bring local and world attention to the City of Tshwane’s innovation and vision
• To forge strong links with potential investors and businesses, highlighting the benefits of doing business in a commercially conducive environment
• To encourage Tshwane citizenship given the city's "green" status
STRATEGY
With hundreds of exhibitors at the CCR Expo, dozens of meetings and private functions, and several local events, a clear strategy is required if the City of Tshwane wants to achieve its objectives and stand above the multitude of information and be noteworthy. Achieving this means that not only will those present remember the City, but the media will also pick up on the City and stream this around the globe. Therefore, the City’s strategy must satisfy delegates, visitors, potential investors and the global media.
To achieve this, a multi-pronged approach is required, with unique activations, in line with City of Tshwane messaging, while being cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Therefore the City will focus on the following core elements:
1. Having a presence at the CCR Expo, using multimedia tools and models;
2. Driving a solid public relations plan so as to appear in COP publications and media, including international news coverage; and
3. Securing meetings with potential investors.
“The Stand” at COP17 CCR Expo
The stand will showcase the City’s strategic planning and achievements around clean and green issues in Tshwane and will build the City of Tshwane's international reputation as a leading institution regarding these issues. It will demonstrate the successes of the City and the residents, by displaying a range of CDM projects, with representatives on hand to explain how each project has benefited the people and Tshwane.
The City will also use the stand as an opportunity to forge links with potential funders and cities/countries abroad.
Leading green innovation, will be the official theme that the city will punt during the COP17 conference, and all designs and material on the stand will reflect this messaging.
The stand will be as “green” as possible, meaning that recycled and recyclable materials will be used to build the stand.