The walk is a fitting curtain raiser to COP17, the UN climate change talks that start on 28 November.
The social mobilisation project will see thousands of people join the premier, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, minister of environmental affairs, Edna Molewa and eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo, as they walk along an artistically rendered Blue Line. The Blue Line is being created on Durban's Oliver Tambo Parade by one of South Africa's internationally renowned public artists, Strijdom van der Merwe. It is designed to symbolise the rising sea level's potential impact on our coastline.
Dr Mkhize says the walk is intended to create a climate of change. "Its central message is to promote positive action and a call to everyone to get involved in helping us, and all the delegates we are honoured to be hosting in Durban this month, to help find practical solutions to climate change," he says. "By walking together, we can share an experience, show our commitment to learning more about our fragile environment and commit ourselves publicly to doing something positive about the problems we all face together as global citizens."
"This initiative offers us an opportunity to reflect on the impact of climate change on our lives and more importantly, encourages South Africans to do something themselves that can make a difference, big and small," says Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa.
After activities at the end of the walk, there is the opportunity for participants to go on to the Inter-Faith Climate Change COP17 Rally at Kings Park Stadium where leading musicians will perform.
