Even though it will be the biggest international gathering ever held in
Africa, the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD) will leave the host city, Johannesburg, cleaner and greener. The
"Greening the WSSD" Initiative will ensure that the Summit is
organized along environmental "best practice" lines and that
minimal waste is generated by the 60 000 delegates expected to descend
on Johannesburg.
The "Greening the WSSD" Initiative has three main aims:
1. To help the organisers of theWSSD and its suppliers to develop
policies and practices that will ensure that the way they operate during
the WSSD conforms to environmental "best practice";
2. To implement and demonstrate best
practices in waste management, water conservation, energy efficiency,
and transport systems; and
3. To raise public awareness of environmental
issues by exhibiting successful sustainable development projects
Specific areas of intervention
under the auspices of the Greening Initiative include:
"
Ensuring that the almost R400 million (US$ 34 million) worth of services
and materials procured for the WSSD comply with are an environmental best
practise framework, in terms of policy and manufacture.
"
Ensuring that the over 200 old busses used in Johannesburg for the conference,
are fitted with catalytic converters to reduce emissions.
"
Undertaking an evaluation /assessment of the main conference venues and
certain key hotels to ensure best environmental practise is being implemented
especially regarding energy efficiency and water conservation. "
Ensuring effective waste management at the WSSDby encouraging the use
of reusable and recyclable materials.
"
A campaign has been launched in partnership with Future Forests - a carbon-offset
company - to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions generated from theWSSD,
particularly those from the travel of delegates, are offset through compensating
investments into energy-saving technology in South Africa.
"
The Gauteng government is running the Bontle ke Botho campaign to find
the cleanest school, cleanest ward and cleanest town in the province.
The campaign will cover 450 wards, 2 500 schools and 16 municipalities
in the province.
"
A campaign has been launched to get the South Africa hospitality industry
to operate in an environmentally responsible way. The Imvelo Awards will
recognise the efforts of establishments that have implemented specific
programmes in the areas of waste management, air quality, water management,
energy efficiency, community involvement and protection of the natural
environment.
"
Gauteng-based projects that demonstrate the principles of sustainable
development will be exhibited at WSSD venues. Tours will be run for delegates
to view several of these projects in the field to allow delegates to see
the challenges that are part of pursuing sustainable development in South
Africa.
"
Five thousand volunteers who will assist with the running of the WSSD
and hosting the delegates will be trained in the principles of sustainable
development and environmental best practice.
"
A "Sustainable Development Barometer" will give delegates a
daily update on consumption of natural resources used during the WSSD.
"
Sustainable development evaluations will be held -- before, during and
after the WSSD-- to measure the impact of the WSSD on the environment
and the success of efforts to reduce waste, water and energy usage.
"
Lessons learnt during the efforts to "green" the WSSD will be
written-up in a Lessons Learnt Report, which will be used to help organise
future international conferences in a sustainable way.
Funding for the Greening the WSSD Initiative has been supplied by the
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment (DACEL) of Gauteng
Province, the Global Environmental Facility and the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP). Technical assistance is being provided by these institutions
and by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Country Office.
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