Some world-famous celebrities will attend the upcoming UN climate change conference scheduled to start in Durban later this month, organizers said on Monday.

These celebrities include former California governor and Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger and British billionaire Sir Richard Branson.

Other celebrities also planning to attend include Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie and U2 frontman Bono.

The celebrities to be present at the summit are all known for their environmental and political activism, the local newspaper Daily News said.

DiCaprio both co-wrote and narrated a climate change documentary The 11th Hour, while Bono has been an active member of Greenpeace since 1993.

Jolie, a UN High Commissioner for Refugees ambassador, founded the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, which funds education programs for children affected by man-made and natural disasters.

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 7th Session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties (CMP7) to the Kyoto Protocol, will be held in Durban from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9.

The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC have been meeting annually since 1995 to assess progress in dealing with climate change.

Also on Monday, the Airports Company of SA (ACSA) said it is ready to handle thousands of people who will converge on Durban for the conference.

"We would like to reassure all those that will be passing through our airports that we are prepared and ready to receive them," said King Shaka International Airport spokesperson Colin Naidoo.

Thousands of people were expected to arrive in Durban for the United Nations climate change conference, the 17th Conference of Parties (COP 17).

There was chaos at King Shaka International Airport during the soccer world cup last year when there was not enough space for some planes to land.

Naidoo said a sharp rise in passenger volumes at the time of the conference was expected.

"ACSA has made some changes at King Shaka Airport that will come into effect from 1 November 2011 and will remain in place until 14 December," Naidoo said.