BY ELSKE JOUBERT
AS AWARENESS OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF OUR ACTIONS ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT − AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN OUR DAILY LIVES − INCREASES, THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR IS RECEIVING ALL THE MORE ATTENTION IN SOUTH AFRICA.
This is the view of Karen King, Senior Associate, WSP, Environment and Energy, Africa. “I must note that there are still large parts of the country where this is not apparent, thus ongoing environmental education is essential.” According to Songo Didiza, Founding Director of Green Building Design Group (GreenBDG), the increase of global crises, such as rising humaninduced ocean pollution and our very own water and energy supply challenges, has resulted in societies becoming more aware of the need to change consumer decisions. “Educated consumers are now placing pressure on producers to change their badly designed products to more environmentally friendly ones. Examples of these are the zero-plastic movement and the push towards cleaner fuels in cars, homes and businesses. In short, thethe green economy is finally becoming an answer to many of the societal challenges we are currently facing thanks to technology platforms such as social media and internet access.”
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