Mar 19 2007
The United Kingdom and South Africa have today agreed to team up to tackle key international sustainable development issues including climate change.
UK Environment Secretary David Miliband and South African Environment Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus Van Schalkwyk signed a joint statement establishing the UK-South Africa High-Level Dialogue on Sustainable Development including a Working Group on Climate Change.
The Dialogue is designed to strengthen bilateral ties in a broad range of policy areas and provide leadership on sustainable development. It also aims to provide a framework for cross-Government collaboration on both sides and for contacts between stakeholders in each country.
The signing, which took place in Potsdam in the margins of the G8 Environment Ministers meeting, will lead to cooperation on a range of sustainable development issues, including climate change, environmental enforcement and mainstreaming sustainable development.
Today's agreement completes the series of five partnerships the UK has built with the key emerging economies to deliver international sustainable development commitments. Agreements have been signed with China , India , Brazil and Mexico .
Mr Miliband said:
“None of us can solve the challenge of sustainable development alone. We are all part of the problem and so we all need to be part of the solution. In particular, we need a shift towards a greener, lower carbon global economy.
“I am very pleased that the UK is working together with key emerging economies such as South Africa to share ideas and practical cooperation which will help us work towards this goal. This agreement provides us with an important platform to improve UK-South African understanding, exchange lessons and undertake joint action. ”
Initial collaboration includes a Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded water governance project, to be implemented by the England and Wales Environment Agency. The project will improve access to water for the poor and disadvantaged to water resources , and represents a UK Government commitment of over £200,000.