Angelina Jolie reportedly will lead a star-studded crew of celebrities to Durban for the U.N. climate change conference (COP17) from 28 November – 9 December 2011. The global summit is set to be the biggest event in Durban’s history. Angelina is currently UNHCR’s Goodwill Ambassador, she will be joined by actor and committed environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio, former Californian governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former US vice-president and active environmental campaigner Al Gore and Bono from U2.

It’s reported that all hotels in and around Durban city have been booked out and the conference is due to net the hospitality industry more than R500m (approx. £38m). Among other notable guests to attend the event include World Bank president Robert Zoellick, U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and eight Nobel Laureates, including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. CNN founder Ted Turner and Virgin boss Richard Branson are also said to be in town for the conference.

The global event is expected to attract delegates from more than 200 countries as the world’s governments and leaders will discuss a new global agreement to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Sue Bannister, acting head of the eThekwini Municipality’s strategic projects unit, said hosting the event would cost the city a little more than R50m, but that it will be money well spent. “The mileage Durban will get from this event is massive,” she told the Sunday Independent.

“The people coming are not just here for match days, but are here for two straight weeks. It’s as big as the World Cup, just at a tenth of the cost,” she said.