Transcript Slide 1
Indalo Yethu: Save Tomorrow, Today 60th AMEU CONVENTION Muhloti Russell Baloyi WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER 2007 Introduction - South African environmental awareness & endorsement campaign - Legacy of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg 2002 - Established by Government through the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism (DEAT) • Government initiative • Independent and works with Government, Civil Society and Business THE OFFERING OFFERING 1: OFFERING 2: EDUCATION & AWARENESS ENDORSEMENT water biodiversity energy Economic and social factors Product lifecycle pollution waste greening/ eco-friendly Support systems 2007: Why are we here? Nobel Peace Prize, WEF, High Level Talks 2007: Indalo Yethu 2006: An Inconvenient Truth 2002: WORLD SUMMIT 2002 2000: UN Millennium Summit - MDGs 1997: Kyoto Protocol of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992: Rio Conference - Agenda 21 1972: 1987: Stockholm, UN Conf Brundtland Commission on Human Environment ‘Our Common Future’ - SD Everything is connected We are not separate from our environment 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 YOU ARE HERE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT • South Africa is the largest emitter of GHGs in Africa • We are a developing country and rated amongst developed countries in relation to GHG emissions • Part of the United Nations and committed to various international agreement, CSD, UNFCCC, MDG’s, etc • Power failure • Electricity Backlog • Reliance on coal powered electricity • Best practices emerging & THERE IS HOPE • Power station going off line & reconnection South African Context The close link between energy use and economic growth WORLD ANNUAL %s GDP:CO2 1960-1990 8.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 % 0.00 -2.00 -4.00 -6.00 1960 WORLD TOTAL CO2 1965 1970 WORLD TOTAL GDP 1975 1980 1985 1990 EXTRACTING ENERGY ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT PROBLEMS ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT • When coal is burned as fuel, it gives off carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas that is linked with global warming. • Burning coal also produces emissions, such as sulfur, nitrogen oxide (NOx), and mercury, that can pollute the air and water. • Sulfur mixes with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide (SO2), a chemical that can affect trees and water when it combines with moisture to produce acid rain. ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT • Mercury that is released into the air eventually settles in water. • The mercury in the water can build up in fish and shellfish, and can be harmful to animals and people who eat them. • Legislation require industries to reduce pollutants released into the air and the water. • Emissions of nitrogen oxide help create smog, and also contribute to acid rain. COAL-NON RENEWABLE ENERGY Coal is a nonrenewable energy source because it takes millions of years to create. The energy in coal comes from the energy stored by plants that lived hundreds of millions of years ago, when the earth was partly covered with swampy forests. OUR VISION Sustainable Solutions For Reducing Environmental Impact • Legislative environment is conducive • Demand Side Management and Energy Efficiency • Open the grid for independent power producers, renewable energy in particular • Encourage decentralized generation systems to complement National power plants • Lobby for point of consumption generation sell back schemes • Move beyond demonstration = roll out Way Forward • Explore possible partnership and collaborations around energy awareness raising and capacity building • Promote & show case your environmental commitment • Share your experience through our website • Do your bit and tell others to do their bit • UNFCC in Born, Germany www.indaloyethu.co.za