The United Nations is hosting the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17), which is a convention on climate change, in Durban, South Africa. The Conference of the Parties has met every year since 1995. COP17 began on Nov. 28, 2011 and will end Dec. 9, 2011. Governmental representatives from close to 190 nations will be in attendance. Several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations will also be at the convention. (more…)