May 24, 2002
By Lucille Davie
MUCH energy is being put into ensuring that the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) is organised along environmental best practice lines, and that the impact of expected 65 000 delegates on Johannesburg is minimised.
A "Greening the WSSD" Initiative has been launched, funded by the South African government, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation Environment and Land Affairs, the Global Environmental Facility and the United Nations Development Programme.
"By taking steps to reduce waste and encourage the efficient use of water and energy, the Initiative will ease the burden of hosting the event on the environment. It will also leave a legacy of projects among the people of Gauteng that will bring about improvements in the quality of the environment in poor and rural communities over the long term," says the Gauteng Department for Agriculture.
There are a number of specific projects being organised by the Initiative:
Procurement
Almost R400-million worth of goods and services have to be secured for the Summit in August. Companies that consider environmental best practice when providing these products and services will be given preference. An example of this is the provision of 200 new buses which are designed to reduce harmful emissions. Fynbos from the Cape will be the preferred flowers used in arrangements, as they are grown sustainably. Furthermore, all gifts given at the Summit will be made from renewable resources, and all packaging will be made from biodegradable materials or be made into re-usable containers.
Waste management
The city's waste management utility, Pikitup, has pledged itself to a policy of "No more Waste" over the two-week Summit period by ensuring that all additional waste generated will be recycled. This entails the construction of multi-media litter bins for "wet" and "dry" waste. Wet waste includes food, which will be combined with leaves and garden cuttings and taken to composting facilities, which are to be established by Pikitup and used in future. Dry waste will be taken to a transfer station to be sorted and recycled. Jobs will be created for people who sort the material for sale to recycling companies. The non-recyclable material will be sent to a landfill.
Energy
Low-polluting power plants are being linked to the national electricity grid to supply sustainable energy for the Summit. "Green" electricity, or power that can be continuously generated without damaging the environment (by means of hydro-electric plants, solar power or wind power), costs more, but Summit venues that buy green electricity will be reimbursed for the cost through a USAID subsidy. Up to 95% of South Africa's energy is produced by coal, making South Africa one of the biggest producers of carbon in the developing world.
Carbon Offset
It is estimated that 500 000 tons of carbon dioxide will be generated by delegates travelling to the Summit. Environmental group Future Forests, in collaboration with the government, is working on an international campaign to offset emissions from the Summit by compensation with investments in energy-saving technology locally. The Johannesburg Climate Legacy project has been established as the local arm of the campaign, and will issue Climate Legacy Certificates going at R100 for individuals and R1-million for corporates. Each R100 certificate is estimated to be worth one ton of carbon dioxide. The Legacy will fund energy-efficient projects across South Africa with those funds.
Responsible tourism
The Hospitality Industry Campaign for Responsible Tourism has been launched to encourage hotels, restaurants and conference venues to cut back on water wastage during the Summit, and to sign a Statement of Intent as part of their commitment. The campaign will concentrate on improving plumbing and repairing leaks; reducing effluent; educating staff and delegates on water conservation; and exploring alternative resources like ground and recycled water. The Imvelo (Zulu for 'nature') Responsible Tourism Awards have been created to reward industry members who qualify under 10 categories of responsible tourism. The winner will be announced on 20 August.
Bontle Ke Botho
The Gauteng government is running the Bontle Ke Botho - "being beautiful is being human" - campaign. It aims to create a "beautiful environment" for people, and therefore a better quality of life for them, by cleaning and greening their environments. The campaign seeks to find the cleanest school, ward and town in Gauteng. There are 2 500 schools and 450 wards in 16 municipalities. One of the criteria in judging the winner is how entrants intend raising public awareness around sustainable development in their community.
Consumption Barometer
The Consumption Barometer will be positioned at entrances to the major venues and will show the impact of the expected 65 000 delegates on Johannesburg and its natural resources. It will give a daily update on how much food, water, paper, energy and other natural resources they have used. This will be compared with how much the city normally generates. Tips on how to reduce waste and consumption will be displayed. Ideas are: making photocopies double-sided, eating organic food, and using disposable cups and plates that are biodegradable. Sustainable development audits will be held before, during and after the Summit.
Monitoring and evaluation
An extensive monitoring and evaluation survey has been developed to ensure that the Greening Initiative is not just an attempt to "green-wash" Gauteng for the Summit. The survey will showcase specific greening initiatives and will form the basis of a Lessons Learnt Report, which will be used to organise future international conferences using sustainable principles.
Showcasing projects
Tours for delegates to view projects that demonstrate sustainable development principles around the province will cover environmental problems such as biodiversity conservation, climate change, desertification and organic pollutants. These projects will showcase ordinary people's efforts to protect the environment.
Training
Advertisements for 5 000 volunteers to help at the Summit have produced applications from 10 000 university students. These volunteers will be trained to assist with the running of the Summit, and to answer delegates' questions on sustainable development and environmental issues in Gauteng. They will be encouraged to take this information back to their communities. They will also will be taught how to apply environmental best practice in their daily lives, and how to create a "greening" plan for their university.
"Considering the number of UN and other international conventions held every year across the world, the lessons learnt from the Greening the WSSD Initiative will be an important contribution to protecting the global environment," says Johan Ohiorhenuan, the UN Development Programme's local representative.
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