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

ENDORSEMENT EDUCATION & AWARENESS OFFERING 1: OFFERING 2: THE OFFERING

water wastepollution energybiodiversity Product lifecycle greening/ eco-friendly Support systems Economic and social factors

: Stockholm, UN Conf on Human Environment 1987: Brundtland Commission ‘Our Common Future’ - SD 1992: Rio Conference - Agenda : Kyoto Protocol of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 2000: UN Millennium Summit - MDGs 2006: An Inconvenient Truth 2007: Indalo Yethu 2002: WORLD SUMMIT : Nobel Peace Prize, WEF, High Level Talks YOU ARE HERE Why are we here? Everything is connected We are not separate from our environment

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

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. greenhouse gas 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