Mabudafhasi was briefing the media in Parliament on progress of the UN Climate Change Conference held in Bonn, Germany, last week.
The Bonn conference was held ahead of the 17th Conference of Parties (Cop17) and the 7th meeting of parties to the Kyoto Protocol, to be held in Durban from November 28 to December 9.
"That (the Kyoto Protocol) is our only legal instrument. It will take us backward if we don't have something binding," warned Mabudafhasi, who added that developed countries needed to stand together with developing nations on reaching an agreement to tackle climate change.
The word's biggest polluters - China and the US - are not party to the Kyoto Protocol, which is due to expire at the end of next year.
The agreement's future is in question, with Japan, Canada and Russia saying they won't sign up for a new round to cut carbon emissions.
Turning to the Bonn meeting, Mabudafhasi said more than 3 000 participants from 183 countries, including government delegates, representatives from business and industry, environmental organisations and research institutions, attended.
She said work had commenced and parties had put forward proposals that could serve as a basis for future negotiations, adding that another preparatory meeting will be held in September, ahead of Cop17. Read the full report here.
Source: 7th Space.com.
