Congratulations are in order for the University of the Western Cape (UWC). They were awarded the national Green Campus of the Year award for 2012 at the inaugural African Green Initiative conference, held from 1 to 4 July at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth.
The African Green Campus Initiative is a response to climate change challenges facing our universities, colleges and communities. It is based on the notion that campuses that address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emission and integrate sustainability into their curriculum will better benefit the students and will help create a thriving, moral and civil society.
a commitment to reduce global warming gas emission
The conference followed a series of workshops and a signing ceremony where Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande and other officials and representatives signed commitments to reduce global warming gas emission in the operations and practices of campuses.
UWC received five awards at the conference:
- Recognition of Student Achievement (by Njabulo Maphumulo)
- Best Institutional Presentation
- Most Innovative Programme (for using chipped branches and garden trimmings as mulch on campus flower birds)
- Best Designed Outfit Made From Recycled Materials
- Most Environmentally Proactive South African Campus (with the University of Cape Town and the Durban University of Technology taking the runner-up spots)
UWC Contracts Manager and green team leader Desleen Saffier expressed her delight and pride in the team’s achievement:
“We were overwhelmed by the recognition and awards we received, and we hope we have set a benchmark for other campuses to follow in the coming years. Our students, staff and suppliers have worked very hard to make these achievements possible, and we are thankful for the work they put in and will continue to put in.”
Well done and keep up the great work!
