The CHIETA Chambers Colloquium 13 February 2014 SETTING THE SCENE Acting CEO, Ms Ayesha Itzkin

Outline CHIETA’s 1 st Research Colloquium in 2013 Why the green economy? The National Development Plan Green and the chemical sector What CHIETA is currently doing CHIETA’s 2 nd Colloquium

CHIETA’s 1 st Colloquium 27 Feb 2013 The CHIETA agreed in Feb 2013 to approach our companies that do research related to their labour needs, their green related needs and interventions, and their planning and forecasting for skills, to share such information with the CHIETA so we can understand the full picture We agreed that company intellectual property, cutting edge related information etc will be respected

CHIETA’s 1 st Colloquium Purpose: to provide an opportunity and platform for the chemical sector stakeholders to engage around skills development research of relevance nationally and to the chemical sector specifically Key focus: Partnerships: between CHIETA, industry and public institutions (FETs and HETs) and research other organizations Result: Clear commitment from industry, as demonstrated through their presentations and discussion, to working together to improve the innovative capacity in the sector and build research related partnerships CHIETA IS committed to facilitate and expand skills development partnerships Feedback from stakeholders on 27 Feb 2013: – Help us strengthen partnerships, particularly with FETs in support of artisan development, around curriculum development, in relation to articulation – We need to get talking on green economy, what it means for us and for skills

Why the green economy? UNEP (2011) considers a green economy as “an economy that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities”. It’s growth in income and employment is driven by: reduced carbon emissions and pollution; enhanced energy and resource efficiency; and preventing the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. This includes investments in human resource development.

The National Development Plan SA aims to ensure environmental sustainability and an equitable transition to a low-carbon economy NDP Ch 5

The NDP imperatives Use our natural resources and mineral deposits and transition to a low-carbon future and a more diverse and inclusive economy Address our developmental challenges in a way that ensures environmental sustainability and builds resilience to the effects of climate change, particularly in poorer communities Invest in skills, technology and institutional capacity to support the development of a more sustainable society and the transition to a low-carbon economy Put in place focused, institutionalised capacity and management structures

The NDP imperatives Drive consumer awareness initiatives and develop sufficient recycling infrastructure so that we become a zero waste society Develop environmentally sustainable green products and services, including renewable energy technologies, which contribute to the creation of jobs in niche markets where South Africa has or can develop a competitive advantage Carbon pricing mechanisms that target specific mitigation opportunities need to be implemented

Green and the chemical sector What path do we take to meet current environmental and human health, economic and social needs without compromising the progress and success of future generations? What practices – products, services and processes- are we changing to support this goal? As citizens, as organisations/companies, as communities, as a country? In other words, what is/can our sector do to support sustainability and the transition to a low-carbon economy?

Green and the chemical sector What skills are needed to support these changes? NSDS III is also informed by overarching governments strategies such as the Environment Strategy, the Industrial Policy Action Plan, the HRD Strategy for SA, etc

The chemical sector Source: Committee on Grand Challenges for Sustainability in the Chemical Industry, National Research Council 2005

What is CHIETA currently doing? Supporting research on green skills – to be presented today Raising green economy considerations in the Sector Skills Plan (SSP) As part of the occupational profiling exercise, beginning to look at green implications Following the QCTO qualification and curriculum process which requires a consideration of green Supporting learners studying towards HET qualifications related to “green occupations” (as defined by OFO)

What is the CHIETA doing? Supporting green initiatives related to skills development through institutional and industry partnerships via the discretionary and strategic projects funding such as ECPG Office of the Premier South African Oil and Gas Alliance

CHIETA Chamber Colloquium Today is about starting that conversation about green economy, implications for the chemical sector and skills development And then taking action!