http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/cop17-will-produce-15-000-tons-of-co2-1.1171238

Fifteen thousand tons.

This is the estimate of how much carbon dioxide will be produced during the 17th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17).

It is based on the assumption that 25 000 visitors will flood into Durban when COP17 begins later this month.

eThekwini Environmental Planning and Climate Protection deputy head, Debra Roberts, said the initial assessment had factored in accommodation; conference venues; transportation; and waste removal logistics.

She said the national government would be focusing on the other aspects of the carbon footprint, such as international air travel, but the city was more concerned with the impact on energy and water resources.

"We are looking at prioritising adaptation to counter the effects of the carbon footprint."

Adaptation would be "Africanised", or tailored to suit the needs of those living in African cities.

"We have decided to launch a community ecosystem-based adaptation programme (Ceba) that will absorb 16 000 tons of carbon dioxide," she said.

Communities would be involved in the collection of waste; removing alien plants and monitoring their re-growth; growing and replacing trees and recycling in the Umbilo River catchment area and around the Pinetown/Kloof areas. These area were chosen to give the disadvantaged communities of Chesterville and Cato Manor a chance to participate.

She said funding would come from a corporate sponsor and would make use of the expertise of the Wildlands Conservation Trust.

Roberts said the municipality had taken the ecosystem approach, as opposed to the carbon-offset approach, because they wanted to make their efforts beneficial to the community in the long term.