S Africa, India in race for UN climate chief job

South Africa will pit its tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk against Indian Environment Secretary Vijay Sharma for the key post of UN's climate change chief.

Sharma will face competition from van Schalkwyk as the UN seeks a replacement for Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Van Schalkwyk's nomination was approved by the South African government after President Jacob Zuma met with him at the weekend to emphasise the importance of achieving a binding climate change agreement with South Africa playing a major role in the process.

"In his portfolio as minister of environmental affairs and tourism, (Van Schalkwyk) positioned South Africa as a true climate change champion," the Presidency said in a statement, adding that he commanded significant respect across the divide between developed and developing countries.

"This will stand him in good stead in this critical phase of driving the global climate change negotiations to conclusion."

The Presidency said it had been approached by a number of governments, business institutions and non-governmental organisations in the developing world about Van Schalkwyk's availability for the position.

Sharma has support from India and China, but according to sources here very little in the developed world.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon will make the final decision on the appointment.

Van Schalkwyk was the last leader of the white Afrikaner-dominated National Party that ruled South Africa for decades before it was disbanded. He is now a member of the African National Congress.