COP 17 is getting closer and I’m increasingly heartened by the growing environmental sustainability move across Government and in the Corporate sector. COP 17 will be the 17^th official gathering of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is probably the most important annual environmental gathering and has had a marked impact on Global Environmental Policy.

 South Africa’s Climate Change response has been slow, well behind that of the European nations and heavily influenced by the delaying tactics of our primary contributors, namely ESKOM and SASOL. These two companies enjoy disproportionate access to government and have actively lobbied for a muted response to climate change that will minimise the impact on their coal based operations. ESKOM is the largest CO₂ emitter in Africa and SASOL enjoys the distinction of being responsible for the highest single point emission on the planet (Secunda). However, COP 17 has introduced the start of a power shift in this dynamic. There is no doubt that ESKOM and SASOL will continue to fight for their core business interests. However, the global scrutiny associated with hosting COP 17 has forced the South African Government to actively initiate a wide range of Climate Change related initiatives. At an environmental level these initiatives are driven by South Africa’s commitment to achieve a 34% reduction of the Country’s 2010 emissions by 2025. At an economic level these initiatives are driven by the Government’s realisation that the “Green Economy” could underwrite the jobs growth which we so desperately need. I have little doubt that these initiatives will change South Africa and that we will see the progressive realisation of a wide range of alternative energy models and the transformation of our poorest communities through the implementation of large scale Green Job initiatives.

 In KZN, we have been exposed to two benchmark initiatives. The KZN Provincial Government’s Integrated Greening Programme aims to plant over 1 000 000 trees and collect 75 000 tons of recycling, creating 1000’s of green jobs over the next 5 years. The eThekweni Metro’s Community Based Reforestation activities aim to restore 1000’s of ha’s of Forest and the associated Riverine and Grassland eco-systems, thereby underwriting the sustainable development of the City. What is particularly exciting about both these initiatives is that they are partnership based, drawing in Civil Society and Business SA. This is a marked shift from the South African Government’s “new South Africa” approach of positioning itself as the relevant delivery agent. An approach that has made it very difficult for Civil Society and Business to align its Environmental and Socio-Economic development activities with those of Government.

 In the process of engaging around these initiatives I’ve been struck by the rapid shift in Business SA’s approach to Environmental Sustainability. As recently as 3 years ago, the concept of an embedded environmental sustainability strategy was virtually unheard of. Now, just about every significant business has initiated Board level discussions aimed at understanding what this means and then developing and implement change. Some will argue to-little to-late. However, I believe that rather late than never. The National Business Initiative is playing a particularly strong leadership role in this regard. They are actively driving and supporting the environmental sustainability agenda, building on the ongoing legacy of visionary initiatives such as the Cambridge Programme for Sustainable Leadership, which has been championing this agenda for over 15 years, under the guidance of the Prince of Wales.

 However, we do have a long way to go. Recent experience with EXXARO has demonstrated that there is still a strong South Africa mega Corporate view that the natural environment is simply a resource to be used, that the financial bottom line is the BOTTOM LINE and that there is always an engineering solution to fix any damage done. Unfortunately, we know this is not the case. Simply look at Johannesburg’s acid water challenge.

 I’m particularly concerned about the Banking sector where there has been very little real environmental behaviour change. Sure Nedbank is now “carbon neutral” and I know that many other banks have similar initiatives underway. However, these banks finance the development that does the long term damage to our environment. They do it because of the profits associated with these initiatives. EXXARO will make R 1 billion profit per annum out of the Fairbreeze initiate. Rand Merchant Bank and Standard Bank are primary financiers for EXXARO. When challenged they deny that their funding is supporting EXXARO’s environment abuses, however, the mere fact they fund EXXARO means that they are complicit. If you are part of a group that murders or rapes someone, you are guilty of murder or rape whether you actually did it or not. As such, I believe that the time has come for the South African banking industry to stop hiding behind financing technicalities and to start using its amazing power to force its partners to abide by world class environmental impact management practise. We need to broaden the debate beyond the obvious contributors, e.g. ESKOM and SASOL, and draw in the rest of the Environmental Abuse Gang, pressurising them to lead and not follow. Imagine if every Standard Bank account holder starting asking their bank managers and tellers about “their” banks support for EXXARO, and what they are doing.

Wildlands Conservation Trust