President Jacob Zuma will attend the G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia from November 15 to 16.

“As the only African country represented in the G20 summit, South Africa’s membership provides an opportunity to influence key international policies that could have an impact on our economy, the region and the continent,” said Minister in the Presidency for Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, on Thursday.

He was briefing media in Cape Town following Cabinet's fortnightly meeting.

COP and MOP

He said Cabinet had approved the negotiating mandate for the South African delegation attending the Joint 10th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Vienna Convention and the 26th meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Montreal Protocol on Substance that deplete the Ozone layer in Paris, France, from November 17 to 21.

“The protection of the environment for present and future generations is a priority and also the protection of the Ozone layer.

“The primary aim is to work towards environmentally sound management of chemicals in a sustainable manner,” Radebe said.

He said the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol were established by the United Nations Environment Programme with the objective of protecting the Ozone layer.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and the Inter-Governmental Committee on Climate Change would hold a conference of South Africa’s National Climate Change Response from November 10 to 13 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.

“Cabinet reiterated South Africa’s commitment to develop a low carbon economy and build on the successes of the Durban climate change conference,” Radebe said.

He said the conference would be held under the theme: “South Africa is transitioning to a lower carbon and climate resilient economy and society”.