Every year on World Environment Day (5 Jun) the country's leading scientists, consultants and business leaders gather to challenge and address crucial issues facing South African business.

Of 1,3 million tons of plastic manufactured in our country, only 250 000 tons was recycled in 2011 – and most of that was post-consumer waste. This means that a big chunk more could have been recycled, according to Jacques Lightfoot, Sustainability Manager of Plastics SA.

The Renewable Energy Forum South Africa (“REFSA”) Conference was founded by Linda Olagunju as a means of setting a platform where industry stake holders could discuss issues affecting the industry with the key objective of making a positive change within the sector.

“Good ecology is good economics,” Dr Andrew Siddle said during the opening of the SA Conference on Carbon Emissions & Tax held recently at the GIBS conference centre in Ilovo.

The role players of SA's plastics industry made use of the opportunity to air their views on matters relating to sustainability and recycling during the first-ever industry specific conference, held in Joburg eariler this month.

"We, in South Africa, certainly have no excuse for not taking a lead in efforts to combat climate change – our country is, after all, blessed with an abundance of renewable energy potential, with some of the world’s best conditions for solar and wind-energy," says Minister of Science and Technology Derek Hanekom (pictured).

In March 2011, the 49M initiative was launched to encourage all South Africans to cut their energy consumption by 10%, aiming to inspire and rally the country behind a common goal to save electricity.

Registrations are underway for the 3rd Annual Waste Management and Recycling conference, which will be held on 18 &19 April 2013 in Johannesburg.

Africa’s potential as the next energy frontier will be highlighted at next month's Africa Energy Indaba Conference & Exhibition taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Joburg. 

The South African plastics industry will be debating various issues that impact on its growth and future prospects with the first-ever industry specific conference, coming in March.

Solar energy, one of our most abundant locally sourced energy resources, plays a critical role in South Africa today. Experts are therefore welcoming the growing interest by developers and investors.

Speaking at the Southern Africa Oil & Gas Summit in Cape Town, TKAG Chair Jonathan Deal cautioned delegates not to rush into investment decisions around shale gas mining in South Africa.

The UN Climate Change Conference in Doha kicked off today, with calls to implement agreed decisions and stick to agreed tasks and timetables.

The biggest waste conference to have been hosted in East London thus far brought together municipal as well as private entities to deliberate and to set up processes which will move our nation ahead in addressing crucial waste management issues.

Shortly after London hosted the Olympic Games, the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town hosted what Director Dr Patrick Garratt has dubbed “the Olympics of the global aquarium community”.

For the first time in Africa, over 100 influential thought leaders from the continent and beyond will gather in Cape Town for the first Sustain our Africa Summit, Expo and Festival in October this year to debate and present solutions to the biggest question of all: Can Africa deliver enough for all, forever?

A recent meeting in Bonn, between governments, major financial institutions, private sector entities and civil society, has resulted in progression toward a common understanding of how to mobilize long-term financing for developing countries, to help them limit greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. 

Next week, Durban will play host to South Africa's most future-focused urban planning and investment event, and Green Times readers qualify for a special discount!

Twenty years ago, the United Nations summit held in Rio de Janeiro paved the way for landmark agreements on the climate and the environment. This year's meeting, on the other hand, has been widely criticized for its lack of vision in the face of accelerating degradation of the planet.

Cape Town has been officially announced as the host city for next year's World Green Building Council Congress. This announcement was made at the recent congress, which took place in Stuttgart, Germany.