The Durban University of technology’s Journalism Programme held a community engagement day, themed “Green climate” on Wednesday 25 May 2011 at their Arthur Smith hall. Amongst the guest speakers were Miss Gabriella Sofia Peppas manger of the “Green hub” an eco-tourism information centre in the uMngeni area next to the uMngeni River which was built in preparation for the FIFA 2010 soccer world cup which was held in Durban. This “Green Hub” provides a base for visitors and residents learning more about Durban’s outdoor attractions and to book nature based activities and accommodation around Durban and KwaZulu-Natal. The aim is to encourage the residents of Durban to explore the municipality’s biodiversity and building an appreciation for the need to conserve and protect this diversity of life. Peppas spoke about the range of changes and positive contributions the green Hub has had on Durban and the community at large, explaining the activities that are available and the goals of the Project, she made examples such as their youth canoeing training and other outdoor programs that are available for underprivileged children. It is with such programmes that people are made aware of the beauty of nature and thus motivating the need to preserve it.
Whilst on the topic of preservation and appreciation speaking on behalf of the Kwa Zulu Natal subsistence fishers’ forum was Desmond D’sa from the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDECA)who went on to speak about how subsistence fishing in Durban is prevailing, mentioning its pros and cons. D’sa said that; “To tell subsistence fishers to stop fishing would be like telling them to go die, since fishing is how they are able to survive and provide for their families”. He mentioned that though we need the environment to survive we must look after it so that it looks after us back, over fishing should never be an option and mentioned how surfers and fishers should work together at making sure that the sea life is preserved and respected. To finish it off was Imagine Durban’s- Amanda Botes who spoke about how the municipality in the future sees Durban an eco-friendly city that is well looked after by its residence, she spoke of little things going a long way like making sure we don’t Litter, Always put our waste in a bin and help recycle our waste.
Durban is primarily an African City, rich with contrasts and honoured traditions. Subtropical beaches and vast undeveloped landscapes provide the environment for great urban development with more traditional rural lifestyles. Because of such diversity, Durban embodies challenges faced by most cities in the global south. The city has been positioned as a global leader in the field of climate protection planning and recognised as the ‘Climate Capital’ of South Africa, due to its bold response to the challenges of climate change and variability.
South Africa is due to host this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference. The 17th conference of Parties on climate change scheduled to be held at Durban from 28 November to 9 December 2011. A decision to set up the Technology Mechanism to aid the technology transfer from developed to developing countries was taken at the Cancun-Mexico- summit. The large set up of the Technology Executive Committee and the Climate Technology Centre & Network are likely to be finalised before the Durban summit. The European Union, which is also the leader in low-carbon technologies, still calls for advanced improvement measures by other developed countries like the United States of America and Australia, including advanced developing countries like China, Brazil and India. The United States has openly stated its reservations to an international agreement that does not include legally binding objectives for the developing countries. While the developing countries argue that developed countries have past responsibility to reduce their carbon emissions and any binding targets would badly impact their own economic growth. We can only but hope that with such conferences there is a change that takes place and it is one that unites all countries developed or not to work together at an eco friendly universe.
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