The 18th United Nations climate change conference (COP18) has opened in the Qatari capital.
Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South African foreign minister, officially handed over on Monday the COP presidency to Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, Qatar's deputy prime minister and the conference's president, at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha.
After brief speeches by both, Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC executive secretary, pointed out the "unique" location of this year's COP.
"Each COP is unique - and this is no exception," she said.
"This is the first time the COP is being held in the Gulf region. On this historic occasion, the region has an unequaled world stage to showcase the contributions being made to reduce the Gulf's food and water vulnerabilities, to put regional energy growth on a more sustainable path and to build a safer, stronger and more resilient energy future for all countries."
For the next fortnight, up to 17,000 people will attend the conference. Delegates will be negotiating a new global deal on climate, but there are ongoing tensions between rich and poor countries.
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