Sustainable development in practice
"Anyone who thinks the science is not there to support the notion that we are altering our planet's climate - to our own detriment - clearly has not read the mainstream scientific findings on the subject. Global warming is a dangerous reality. It represents a trend, which, if unchecked, will be dangerous for all humans." * That sentiment was expressed in 1999, seven years after the Rio World Summit on Sustainable Development.
In launching SUSTAIN 2007, a business-to-business exhibition which will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, Valli Moosa, chairman of Eskom Holdings, reminded us how relevant that sentiment is today. In particular, he outlined how sustainable development had become a significant reality in Eskom's business plans. Developing his theme with practical examples, Moosa emphasised that sustainable development must be shaped into all public and private sector business planning until it becomes second nature to the planners. Moosa went on to endorse the aims and objectives of SUSTAIN 2007 and confirmed his patronage of the exhibition.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development was an initiative to focus international attention on, among other things:
* Energy - to boost the share of global energy produced from renewable resources.
* Water and sanitation - to halve the number of people lacking clean drinking water and basic sanitation.
* Natural resources and biodiversity - cut significantly the rate at which rare animals and plants are becoming extinct eg, restoring depleted fish stocks; combat desertification.
* Health - chemicals should be produced in such a way that negative effects on health and environment will be minimised; persistent organic pollutants; hazardous chemicals and pesticides.
* Climate change - the Kyoto Protocol; to advance the sustainable development cause in southern Africa, it is apposite to provide a platform on which the owners of processes that contribute to sustainability are able to showcase the merits and competences of these processes to an audience that can see commercial as well as developmental benefits in employing them.
The status quo
The Kyoto Protocol was initiated to gain international support for, and commitment to, implementing procedures and policies to achieve measurable reductions in, specifically, atmospheric pollution, viz greenhouse gases. Promoted at the same time was a range of measures aimed at reducing the effect of 'bad' practice in the utilisation of natural resources.
The governments of some nations, including our own, have taken positive steps to introduce legislation which will put the onus on producers to reduce destructive emissions, restore ecological stability in damaged environments and rein in wasteful consumption.
Also predicated in the legislation is the policing of the efficiency and effectiveness of the measures employed to comply with the requirements.
Opportunities to reduce consumption (of natural resources) are becoming more readily available and accessible to business, industry and the man in the street. Viable alternative production streams, that lessen the damage caused to ecological systems, are being developed and marketed and in many cases are currently in use.
Steve Lennon, managing director Resources and Strategy at Eskom, also addressed the delegates at the launch. Among other things he drew attention to the partnerships between Government and the private sector that are in place today with regard to sustainable development and which emanated from the World Summit on Sustainable Development. He also commented that much has already been done since the WSSD and it will be a welcome addition, through SUSTAIN 2007, to remind the public consciousness that still more needs to be done.
About SUSTAIN 2007
SUSTAIN 2007, the Exhibition - will demonstrate the products and processes that are available to reduce pollution in its widest sense and, practically, restore the ecological and environmental balance. It will show not only what can and is being done elsewhere in the world to achieve sustainable ecological conditions, but it will promote the concept of sustainable development in the South African market place, identifying opportunities for businesses to enter the market for earth-friendly products and practices.
SUSTAIN 2007 is supported by many of the institutions and organisations, which are actively involved in the business of sustainable development including The Department of Science and Technology, The Water Institute of South Africa, The Institute of Waste Managements and The National Association of Clean Air.
* Source: Dead Mars, Dying Earth, 1999. (Monica Rix Paxon, Scientific Editor).
For more information contact Zia Tomes, Exhibitions for Africa, +27 (0)11 886 3734,
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