The meeting, attended by representatives from some 35 countries, was opened by Germany's Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen and South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashbane.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was due to address the gathering later on Sunday.
In her weekly video podcast broadcast, she called for the Durban meeting to hammer out a global, legally-binding agreement to ensure that global warming, due to carbon emissions, be limited to 2 degrees Celsius.
"A number of countries have announced [in the wake of the 2010 Cancun summit] voluntary measures, but these will not suffice to reach our objective," Ms Merkel said.
"We also need measures, targeted measures, and if possible treaties that are legally binding. That's what will be difficult. But in any case, time is running short as the Kyoto Protocol is soon to expire." Read the full report here.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald.
