Expo showcases SA's climate change response

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Durban - If you want to find out what the South African government, NGOs and private sector are doing about climate change - visit the South Africa Climate Change Response (SACCR) Expo in Durban.

The expo, an initiative by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) will be showcasing green initiatives undertaken by government, corporates, NGO's and SME's in Durban during COP17.

Visitors to the expo will learn how climate change affects all of us and the different plans put in motion by these sectors to ensure that people live a greener life.

Deputy Director General at the DEA, Blessing Manale said keeping in line with the greening principle, they will be using as many local KwaZulu-Natal suppliers as possible.

"We want to indicate to people of our country that South Africa has resources that can form part of green living. It is only when capacity is limited that we are sourcing suppliers from elsewhere in SA. For example, only plants indigenous to KZN have been chosen to beautify the SACCR Expo," said Manale.

Bottled water has been banned from the exhibition space. Water coolers will be supplied throughout the venue, with clean drinking water - filled from the taps. Plastic cups will be supplied and these and the coolers will be branded with water conservation messaging.

"People may question the use of plastic cups, but these have been chosen as they can then be recycled through our onsite waste management system. We did consider having biodegradable cups, but there was a concern that these may be confused with plastic and added to the recycling - which, being non-recyclable, would cause problems in this waste stream," said Manale.

Only plants indigenous to KZN have been chosen to beautify the Expo. The different sections of the exhibition space have also been named after trees, and each tree will be showcased by the marquee.

Small ecosystem displays will also be set up and will be accompanied with information to educate visitors as to their role and value in environmental systems.

Avoiding private vehicle usage as much as possible, on arrival from the airport, a shuttle service will be made available to transport all participants to their accommodation or the central transport hub which is 10 minutes away from the SACCR Expo.

"The emissions associated with transportation typically compromise the largest wedge of an event's carbon footprint and this has spurred an impressive range of interventions to reduce the need for emissions - intensive private transportation," said Manale.