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The NBI's weekly sustainable development news update
On A Clear Day: Issue 506, 1 October 2014
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CONTENTS:
Industry News
NBI International Partners
Notices, Reports & Surveys
NBI Events
South African Events
International Events
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Industry News
NBI’s PSEE PROGRAMME HEAD DR PETER MUKOMA INTERVIEWED BY ETV – SUNRISE ON MANAGING ENERGY
COSTS Listen to Dr Mukoma talk about the Private Sector Energy Efficiency Programme (PSEE) in an interview by Penny
Lebyane on ETV Sunrise. ETV Sunrise
CLICKS GROUP AWARDED FIRST PLACE IN THE NATIONAL ENERGY BAROMETER SURVEY IN THE HEAD OFFICE
CATEGORY Clicks Group claimed the title of South Africa’s top ranking building in the National Energy Barometer Survey (NEBS)
for the 2012 utility year in the Corporate Head Offices category. Nadia Shah, Urban Earth, 30 September 2014
THE FIRST RULE OF WASTE TO ENERGY: IS IT FEASIBLE? South Africa’s power supply is taking strain and with the country’s
grid nearing peak demand, an intervention is needed. To this end, several alternatives are being explored but there is a growing
need for more sustainable methods of power generation and demand side management. 25 Degrees.net, 29 September 2014
SOUTH AFRICA PLANS FOR 2016 CARBON TAX SYSTEM WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY REPORT South Africa plans for 2016
Carbon Tax System with Energy Efficiency Report. The study, conducted by Investment Property Databank (IPD) and the Green
Building Council of SA (GBCSA), concluded that the prospect of an EE solution could help alleviate some of the issues that the
current, challenging economic climate are presenting. Green Business Guide, 29 September 2014
ETHIOPIA BANKS ON SEEDS TO BOOST FOOD SECURITY Ethiopia has introduced a programme to improve food security that
combines scientific knowledge with local know how, as new community-based seed banks and training centres try to help farmers
meet their basic needs and increase agricultural output. News24, 29 September 2014
ANC: ENERGY’S THE PROBLEM, NOT ZUMA The ANC on Sunday scolded media reports of President Jacob Zuma
orchestrating a R1-trillion nuclear power deal with Russia. M&G, 28 September 2014
KING STAKES CROWN ON HIS VISION ‘No corporate governance regulation could be written to make all executives act
competently and honestly’ said King recently at the Wanderers Club. ‘It is only fair to employees that a company compiles its own
‘codes of conduct’ and that those codes be written into one’s employment contract.’ Loni Prinsloo, BDlive, 28 September 2014
GOVT COMMITTED TO QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL Deputy Minister for Higher Education and Training, Mduduza Manana,
says government has made a commitment to providing quality education to all learners and students. SA Govt News Agency, 26
September 2014
ESKOM CONFIRMS TWO TOP EXECUTIVES HAVE RESIGNED Andrew Etzinger, Eskom Spokesperson says Group Executive
for Sustainability, Dr Steve Lennon, will leave at the end of March 2015 and Group Executive Enterprise Development and Acting
Group Executive of Customer Services, Erica Johnson leaves at the end of October 2014. BizNiz Africa, 26 September 2014
UNITED NATIONAL CLIMATE SUMMIT ACHIEVES BOLD ACTION New steps to immediately tackle climate change were
announced by government, business, finance and civil society leaders at the United Nationals secretary general’s Climate Summit
in New York. Geoff Maslen, University World News, 25 September 2014
NBI International Partners
Bringing you news and the latest research from our international partners
UN GLOBAL COMPACT The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their
operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anticorruption. The NBI hosts the Local Network of the UNGC. Read an overview of the UN Global Compact, here.
CDP The CDP in South Africa is a long-standing partnership between the London-based CDP and the National Business Initiative
(NBI). Read the facts about CDP, here.
WORLD BUSINESS COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (WBCSD) NBI is the regional partner of the WBCSD in
South Africa. Read their news article entitled “WBCSC Perspective on the 2015 Climate Change Agreement’, here.
WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE INSIGHTS The WRI, based in the USA, has partnered with the NBI to build capacity with our
members and broader business to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read their blog entitled ‘By the Numbers: The New Climate
Economy’, here.
Notices, Reports and Surveys
SCIENTISTS TRACE EXTREME HEAT IN AUSTRALIA TO CLIMATE CHANGE Five groups of researchers, using distinct
methods, analyzed the heat that baked Australia for much of 2013 and continued into 2014 when the temperature climbed to 111
degrees Fahrenheit. All five research groups came to the conclusion that last year’s heat waves could not have been as severe
without the long-term climatic warming caused by human emissions. New York Times.
SA’S ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS’ FINANCIAL BENEFITS A new study conducted by Investment Property Databank (IPD)
and the Green Building Council of SA (GBCSA) has found that energy efficient (EE) commercial buildings in South Africa deliver
better financial returns than non-EE buildings for their owners. Cape Business News
HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT GOALS – UNESCO In a new briefing report, UNESCO has
identified tertiary education as a fundamental element towards progress in each of 16 proposed post-2015 global sustainable
goals. University World News
SOUTH AFRICA: ELECTRICITY PRICING PARALYSING THE POOR The electricity sector in South Africa has been in a state of
disruption over the last few years. The tariff increases have grown from a modest rate of 5.1% to a peak of 31.3% in 2009/10. As
shown in the graph, these tariff increases were generally at rates above the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and as such, elicited
harsh backlash from the public. 25 Degrees.net
South African Events
NBI EVENTS:
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP SERIES: SOUTH AFRICA’S WASTE LEGISLATION 8 October 2014, Johannesburg. Waste has been
steadily rising up the corporate agenda in South Africa. This process has been driven, in part, by an increasingly advanced
regulatory regime. The commencement of the Waste Act in 2009 has been followed by a number of measures, including the
publishing of the listed activities for waste management, the formulation of the National Waste Management Strategy and the
development of various Norms and Standards for the waste sector. For more info, click here.
LAUNCH OF THE 8TH SA CDP CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT 2014 15 October 2014, The Auditorium, KPMG, Wanooka Building,
Parktown, Johannesburg. This year’s CDP launch is going to focus on acknowledging top performing companies. With the CDP
moving away from producing a Global 500 report to launching a climate change performance leadership report, South Africa’s top
performers will now be recognised as global top performers. Click here for more info.
OTHER SOUTH AFRICAN EVENTS:
GREEN CAPE AND THE WESTERN CAPE GOVERNMENT: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WORKSHOP 22 October 2014,
Stellenbosch. Take this opportunity to meet with delegates from other companies, industries, research and development agencies,
local universities and recycling companies. Resources include the matching of energy, water, logistics and expertise. For more
info email [email protected] or call 021 811 0250.
GIBS INTEGRATED REPORTING SEMINAR SERIES This series is an opportunity to learn more about integrating sustainable
development into a company’s strategic thinking and communicating a strategy in a concise and meaningful integrated report.
Seminar 2: 27 October 2014 – Accountability and the role of the board in an integrated report. Seminar 3: 10 February 2015 –
Stakeholder engagement, brand, reputation and integrated reporting. To register contact: Tel: +27 (0)11 771 4161 or Email:
[email protected]
ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE 2014 27-28 October 2014, Gallagher Estate, Johannesburg. Bookings are now
open for the fifth Enterprise Development Conference, supported by Anglo American. Featuring a speaking line-up of innovators,
thought-leaders, game-changers and mavericks in the enterprise and supplier development space, this best-practice conference is
a must-attend event for sector practitioners, entrepreneurs, corporates and government. Click here for more info or call 011 467
3341 or email [email protected] to book your seat today – and be part of the conversation.
THE 9TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN AFRICAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY CONVENTION 12-13 November 2014, Johannesburg. The
SAEE is joining hands with different energy stakeholders, including equipment suppliers, consulting engineers, energy service
companies, end-users of energy, utilities and researchers to share information on energy efficiency. Click here for more info.
AUHF 2014 17-19 November 2014, CTICC, Cape Town. African Union for Housing Finance, 30th Anniversary Conference. The
focus this year: Alternative building technologies for affordable housing construction. Click here for more information
SOUTHERN AFRICAN ANTI-CORRUPTION SUMMIT 2014 17-20 November 2014, Monte Casino, Johannesburg. This event will
bring together stakeholders from all sectors of anti-corruption corporate compliance, from purchasing, business development, HR,
legal and finance departments, to the CEO and Board of Directors. It is valuable for your organisation because enforcement activity
by the US Department of Justice is increasing in Southern Africa. Click here for more info.
ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS Climate Change and Carbon Management course 25-27 November
2014, Johannesburg. Promethium Carbon and Environmental & Sustainability Solutions jointly offer this course which addresses
climate change as well as carbon foot-printing, accounting, reporting and offsetting. It also provides you with a tool to calculate
your carbon tax liabilities. Click here for more info, e-mail [email protected] or phone 082 882 7700.
International Events
WRI: SEEING IS BELIEVING: CREATING A NEW CLIMATE ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES 10 October 2014,
Washington DC, USA. Building on the forthcoming global New Climate Economy report, this new analysis provides evidence and
real-world examples demonstrating how the US is already seizing economic returns while reducing its greenhouse gas emissions –
and outlines what can be done to further hasten these positive trends. Click here for more info.
IARU: MAKING UNIVERSITIES SUSTAINABLE CONFERENCE 22-24 October 2014, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. The
International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) organises the Making Universities Sustainable Conference at University of
Copenhagen to address key issues regarding university sustainability along with experienced professionals from all the IARU
universities and throughout the field. Click here for more info.
WORLD SMART ENERGY WEEK 2014 25-27 February 2015, Tokyo, Japan. This event will feature all kinds of technologies for
solar cell/module manufacturing, PV system installation and integration, wind energy and more. Click here for more info.
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