WAGGGS delegates at the opening ceremony for COP17

Today Kristina from Denmark and Beatrice from Kenya was selected to represent YOUNGO and the Women constituency respectively at the opening ceremony for COP17. This was a great opportunity to get close to some of the 20,000 delegates at this year's COP and a great way to start the first day of COP1 7 ,which we have been eagerly looking forward to. On our way we were met by African dancers with vigorous dancing styles and rhythms.

Board members each held an inspiring speech and it was great to hear their point of view. Here is a few of them:

• Kwana Mashabani was elected as the President of COP17. It is great to see a female leader of COP17 and she pointed out that impacts of climate change on women should be a focus – and WAGGGS agree!
• Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, put focus on the difficulties of reaching a decision to reduce climate change impacts by stating that it seems impossible until it is done.
• President Jacob Zuma of South Africa talked about his commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, start projects on renewable energy sources and secure 300,000 green jobs by 2020. He opened the COP 17 with the sentence:

There seemed to be a general consensus between all the parties to get good results here in Durban and a satisfactory outcome for developing countries.

Beatrice Omweri from Kenya and Kristina Marker from Denmark