President Jacob Zuma has congratulated the delegation representing South Africa at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in France, following the adoption of the new Paris Agreement on climate change.

Late on Saturday evening, the UNFCCC adopted the historic agreement to address greenhouse gas emissions for the post-2020 period, while increasing countries’ ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change during the next session.

Parties pledged to curb emissions, strengthen resilience and take common climate action, following two weeks of negotiations.

The Paris Agreement and the outcomes of COP21 cover all crucial areas identified as essential for a landmark conclusion.

These included mitigation efforts to reduce emissions and meet the temperature goal; a transparency system and global stock-take; adaptation; loss and damage considerations; and finance support.

“This would not have been possible if South Africa had not delivered the outcomes at COP17, in Durban in 2011. The success in Paris is the culmination of the watershed Durban Climate Change Conference in 2011, where Parties to the Convention agreed to the mandate for the Paris Agreement.

“We congratulate South Africans for this contribution to finding solutions to a global challenge. We also thank the United Nations for the opportunity provided to us to play this role,” Zuma said on Sunday.

The agreement was reached as South Africa chaired the Group of 77 plus China – a group of more than 130 developing countries representing more than 80% of the world’s population.

The group was comprised of a diverse group of countries, but united by the goal to protect their vulnerable and poor.

“Under South Africa’s leadership, the Group of G77 plus China was more united than ever before in the history of the climate change negotiations and South Africa managed to rally this group of developing countries, which made a decisive difference in building the political will that was required to reach agreement on this important issue,” the President noted.

He added that climate change posed a “grave” threat to developing countries’ ability to ensure that their people are lifted out of poverty.

“It has therefore been a great honour for South Africa to play such a key role at both the beginning and at the end of the process, through which the international community worked toward reaching this historic solution.

“The agreement presents a big step forward in committing all countries to act decisively against climate change. Through this agreement, hope has been restored for a safe and prosperous future, where climate change will be adequately addressed,” he remarked.

The South African team was led by Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, who was supported by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters, Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana, Ambassador Nozipho Mxakatho Diseko from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and other senior officials.