Environmentalists rewarded for contributions
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
Namibians were recognised last week at the third edition of the Sustainable Development Awards for their outstanding contributions made in the field of sustainable development in Namibia.
This year, the awards targeted the private sector and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), community-level natural resource management and utilisation initiatives, research and development, youth action for sustainable development, pioneering journalism in the field of sustainable development, green banks, school in action for sustainable development, women in action for sustainable development and thought leadership.
Greening the economy
The awards were hosted under the theme ‘Accelerating the Green Economy Transformation as We Recover from Covid-19’.
Speaking at the event, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said tourism in Namibia has declined by 87% since 2019.
“This overnight collapse has translated into a massive loss of over 1 000 jobs, with the closure of many tourism-related businesses.
“At the broader level, government has been affected by a sharp decline in foreign exchange and tax revenues, which has further curbed public spending capacity and our ability to deploy the measures necessary to support livelihoods through this crisis.”
He said the transition to a greener economy, based on the most efficient and sustainable use of natural resources, offers the opportunity to move out of this crisis and towards a nation that is food, water and energy secure.
“This will have the knock-on benefits of enhancing climate change resilience, creating decent employment opportunities and reducing income inequality. It is for this reason that accelerating the green economy transition is key to our development as a nation.”
Leading with conviction
The chairperson of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council, Gloria Simubali, said the awards seek to reach out to all sectors of society active in promoting sustainable development across the country, including organs of state, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, the private sector and funding agencies.
The CEO of the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia, Benedict Libanda, said the awards have grown since the first event in 2015.
He said the organising committee had received 74 nominations this year and encouraged all the winners and nominees to continue to lead with deep conviction in the race against the developmental challenges faced today.
Ten men and women received awards.
The Sustainable Development Awards was first held in 2015 and was based on a joint idea of the EIF and Sustainable Development Advisory Council.
It was planned to be hosted every two years and a subsequent second edition of the awards was held in 2017.
The third edition of the awards was delayed for a number of reasons, but was finally held on 21 May.
WINDHOEK
Namibians were recognised last week at the third edition of the Sustainable Development Awards for their outstanding contributions made in the field of sustainable development in Namibia.
This year, the awards targeted the private sector and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), community-level natural resource management and utilisation initiatives, research and development, youth action for sustainable development, pioneering journalism in the field of sustainable development, green banks, school in action for sustainable development, women in action for sustainable development and thought leadership.
Greening the economy
The awards were hosted under the theme ‘Accelerating the Green Economy Transformation as We Recover from Covid-19’.
Speaking at the event, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said tourism in Namibia has declined by 87% since 2019.
“This overnight collapse has translated into a massive loss of over 1 000 jobs, with the closure of many tourism-related businesses.
“At the broader level, government has been affected by a sharp decline in foreign exchange and tax revenues, which has further curbed public spending capacity and our ability to deploy the measures necessary to support livelihoods through this crisis.”
He said the transition to a greener economy, based on the most efficient and sustainable use of natural resources, offers the opportunity to move out of this crisis and towards a nation that is food, water and energy secure.
“This will have the knock-on benefits of enhancing climate change resilience, creating decent employment opportunities and reducing income inequality. It is for this reason that accelerating the green economy transition is key to our development as a nation.”
Leading with conviction
The chairperson of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council, Gloria Simubali, said the awards seek to reach out to all sectors of society active in promoting sustainable development across the country, including organs of state, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, the private sector and funding agencies.
The CEO of the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia, Benedict Libanda, said the awards have grown since the first event in 2015.
He said the organising committee had received 74 nominations this year and encouraged all the winners and nominees to continue to lead with deep conviction in the race against the developmental challenges faced today.
Ten men and women received awards.
The Sustainable Development Awards was first held in 2015 and was based on a joint idea of the EIF and Sustainable Development Advisory Council.
It was planned to be hosted every two years and a subsequent second edition of the awards was held in 2017.
The third edition of the awards was delayed for a number of reasons, but was finally held on 21 May.
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