2011-12-1

UNFCCC Conference COP17/CMP7: a bulletin from the NIES delegation in Durban, South Africa

The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) 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 is being held over the two week period starting from November 28, 2011, in Durban, South Africa.

Plenary and subsidiary meetings take place at the International Convention Centre (ICC), while Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC) located inside ICC is being used for side events and exhibition booths.

The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan, is operating a booth during the first week of the conference period. Many visitors, including government delegates, NGOs and members of the mass media are taking advantage of the opportunity to acquaint themselves with NIES activities at the booth. There will also be a side event on December 2 (Friday) aimed at facilitating discussions on a project to establish Low Carbon Society (LCS) in Asia.

The exhibition booth features displays on global warming and other NIES research topics, and includes monitoring data from the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite “IBUKI” (GOSAT), and the results of global climate change projections produced using supercomputers. Two screens are showing slideshows and videos of these research outcomes, and all visitors are also offered a compact disc containing materials about NIES.

The southern hemisphere is now heading towards the middle of its summer. Durban itself faces onto the Indian Ocean and thus welcomes many tourists attracted by its warm climate. A large number of people from all over the world are staying in Durban during the period of COP17/CMP7, adding to impression of warmth at the conference venue.

Complementing the discussions between governments regarding policy measures aimed at fighting global warming, NIES is using this opportunity to show the world how this particular research institution is contributing to these endeavors.

Photo:NIES exhibition booth