S. African city gears up for UN climate change talks
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Although the 17th United Nations Framework Convention in Durban is 10 months away, preparations in the South Africa host city are underway, the South African parliament in Cape Town heard on Wednesday.
Joanne Yawitch, deputy director-general in South Africa's environmental affairs department, said that more than 10,000 rooms for visitors to Durban have been "blocked" for the Nov. 28 to Dec. 9 event.
According to the South African Press Association (SAPA), she made the statement while briefing the South African parliament's environmental affairs portfolio committee.
She said the coastal city was ideally suited to cater for the large numbers of foreign dignitaries the international event would attract.
"Durban was identified as the host city largely because it has the biggest (convention) facility in the country... enabling us to hold the conference in one place."
She explained that Durban's convention bureau has blocked more than 10,000 rooms.
"The tenders have gone out... in order to appoint someone to manage the accommodation," she added.
In early February, the first meeting of a logistics committee for the event would be held, she said.
In addition, meetings will be held in Durban to discuss "issues related to finance."
In mid-February, a UN delegation is set to visit South Africa to discuss "issues related to the logistics" of the event.
Yawitch said the legacy of South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup "puts us at quite an advantage."
Mexicans used last year's climate conference, COP16 in Cancun, as an opportunity to "showcase" their country. South Africa will do the same, she said.
