EDITOR’S COMMENT
Editor Nombulelo Manyana
Urgent action needed
Managing editor Alastair Currie Head of design Beren Bauermeister Designer Lizette Jonker Chief sub-editor Tristan Snijders Contributors Wayne Glossop, Anton Hanekom, Brendon Jewaskiewitz, Tord Johnsson, Jane Molony, Hugh Tyrrell, Ryan van Heerden Production & client liaison manager Antois-Leigh Nepgen Production coordinator Jacqueline Modise Group sales manager Chilomia Van Wijk Distribution manager Nomsa Masina Distribution coordinator Asha Pursotham Printers Novus Print Montague Gardens Tel +27 (0)21 550 2300 Advertising sales Joanne Lawrie Cell +27 (0)82 346 5338 joanne@3smedia.co.za
E
xperts have described the report and recent environmental issues as a ‘code red’ for humanity and have suggested that urgent action be taken to reduce our ecological footprint. An ecological footprint is defined as the measure of human demand on nature and compares human consumption of natural resources with earth’s ecological capacity to regenerate them.
We need urgent interventions Publisher Jacques Breytenbach 3S Media 46 Milkyway Avenue, Frankenwald, 2090 PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117 Tel +27 (0)11 233 2600 Fax +27 (0)11 234 7274/5 www.3smedia.co.za Annual subscription subs@3smedia.co.za R200.00 (incl VAT) South Africa ISSN 1680-4902 Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa Tel +27 (0)11 675 3462 Email iwmsa@iwmsa.co.za All material herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions of authors expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, editor or the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa. © Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Novus Holdings is a Level 2 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Contributor, with 125% recognised procurement recognition. View our BBBEE scorecard here: https://novus.holdings/sustainability/ transformation The ABC logo is a valued stamp of measurement and trust, providing accurate and comparable circulation figures that protect the way advertising is traded. ReSource is ABC audited and certified.
The latest statistics suggest that the average world citizen has an eco-footprint of about 2.7 global hectares, while there are only 2.1 global hectares of bioproductive land and water per capita globally. Simply put: we need to make changes – urgently – if we want to save the environment. South Africa’s revised nationally determined contribution to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, submitted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, has given hope to a dire situation. However, according to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, it will require an equally ambitious multilateral commitment of financial support by developed countries for our nation’s just transition. Businesses and government alike are also looking at different ways to go green, and have implemented many regulations like the Carbon Tax Act (No. 15 of 2019), EPR Regulations and numerous landfill bans. These are an effort to introduce more sustainable practices and spark a sense of responsibility among producers, exporters and consumers. By going green, businesses can save money by reducing waste and increasing efficiency, lessen health and safety risks, attract environmentally conscious consumers and employees, and differentiate themselves from competitors.
While most people are aware that the world faces huge environmental challenges, ver y few know the true extent of this crisis. According to a recent repor t by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global warming is “widespread, rapid and intensifying”. impact is and then implement measures to reduce this. These include: 1. Using energy more efficiently: Energy efficiency means using less energy to perform the same task – thereby helping with reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing demand for energy imports, and lowering costs on an economy-wide level. 2. Installing clean, renewable energy systems such as solar and wind. 3. Conserving water. 4. Reducing, reusing and recycling. There are obviously many other ways that can be investigated but what’s clear is that this is a monumental challenge at hand. In this, our Environmental Issue of ReSource, we not only look at ways to reduce your environmental impact but also at the great strides many organisations have already taken to reduce their eco-footprint, reuse their resources and reconsider their habits.
Nombulelo
Decrease your carbon footprint This begs the key question: how can businesses decrease their carbon footprint? First, it is important to know what your current environmental
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