Environmental awareness House Committees 2018 31 Jan 2018 Nikki Kohly – Safety, Health & Environmental Officer

What are some of the big…….….….. Environmental Issues? Pollution Degradation Unequal access Poverty, crime Poor & marginalised lack access to resources, are worst affected. RU, Grahamstown, South Africa, worldwide. Water Waste Energy Food Biodiversity

… some of the big……………...….….. Environmental Issues Water: Water restrictions apply in our town. Water supply is too low. Threatened by droughts, poor sewage & waste management. Pollution of catchments impacts our health. Energy: Costly. Coal-fired power causes pollution, impacts our health. Delays in implementing renewable energy. High energy consumption is linked to higher residence fees. Waste: Our throw-away culture leads to excessive waste. Littering & illegal dumping. Poor law enforcement & landfill site management impacts our health. Biodiversity: Diversity of life is a natural insurance policy, vital for food security. It is threatened by invasive species, changes in land-use & climate, which makes society vulnerable.

Our planet: supplying natural resources and absorbing our waste Ecological Overshoot IF everyone lived the average American lifestyle, we’d need 5 planets! Our planet: supplying natural resources and absorbing our waste

What is………………….……………. Environmental Sustainability? Living within the limits of what natural ecosystems can provide. “Social-ecological perspective” of sustainability: human social world & natural ecosystems interconnected. Ability to lead a good life – have clean air, drinkable water and healthy food, as well as opportunities to learn, generate income, and live in a peaceful and just society – linked to how we relate to and care for the natural world.

What is needed…………….……………. Constructive Action SUSTAINABILITY Education & Research Water Energy Waste Biodiversity Travel Organisation Procurement www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals www.ru.ac.za/environment/policy

Inspiring role models RU Environmental Award winners! www.ru.ac.za/environment/awards

Look around … there are many people who are making a difference… being PART OF THE SOLUTION! Dr Gladman Thondhlana (RU Enviro Science) Research on improving human well-being; links between wild resource use, rural livelihoods & household welfare issues; pro-environmental behaviour (energy, water, recycling); sustainable natural resource management; founder of RU Trees for Life Project Prof Nosi Ngqwala (RU Pharmacy) Research on water, sanitation, removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater, passionate about science communication, community engagement, 2017 Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans

Prof Wangari Maathai (Kenya) Green Belt Movement - tree planting - enviro conservation, women's rights. Rene Ngongo (DRC) Biologist and environmentalist - protection of forests & social justice, founder of OCEAN (helping Congolese people fight against deforestation)

Action! In res: coordinated by Environmental Reps

Water Wise Action WATER www.ru.ac.za/environment/resources/water Enviro Reps involve residents Put up signs & send out WhatsApp alerts Leaks: report immediately & chase up! WATER www.ru.ac.za/environment/resources/water

Water Wise Action Enviro Reps involve residents Rainwater tanks (res, donate) Water testing Re-usable water bottles Herb/veg patch

Waste Wise Action WASTE www.ru.ac.za/environment/resources/waste Enviro Reps involve residents REDUCING waste Recycling Re-use shopping bags / cloth bags WASTE www.ru.ac.za/environment/resources/waste

Waste Wise Action Enviro Reps involve residents Hazardous waste: Res/Hall worm farm Liquid fertiliser – “Vermitea” Veggie garden Hazardous waste: Separate CFLs, batteries, sharps, chemicals, body fluids, etc - safe disposal Cigarette butts - safe disposal

DID YOU KNOW? Cigarette butts = toxic trash, most commonly discarded waste worldwide (1.69 billion pounds = 177,895 elephants) Buying tobacco: keeps families in poverty (in SA a smoker spends 10.6% of national median income on 10 cheap ciggies a day). www.ru.ac.za/safety/resources/smoking

Energy Wise Action ENERGY www.ru.ac.za/environment/resources/energy LED Safety! www.ru.ac.za/environment/resources/energy

Other Enviro Action

Where to get…..................………. Support and Information? Enviro Reps webpage www.ru.ac.za/environment/students/enviroreps SRC Environmental Councillor www.ru.ac.za/environment/student Environment webpages www.ru.ac.za/environment Follow the links: ACTION, RESOURCES, POLICY, etc etc

Thank you!