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.