"SA Act Now! Combat Climate Change" is the pertinent theme chosen to celebrate National Environment Month during June 2009. The theme is appropriate as it revolves around climate change which is a key priority for world governments," said Mr Albi Modise, Spokesperson for the Department of Environment.
South Africa is raising the bar on climate change as a significant factor in its development agenda, with the March 2009 Climate Change Summit having laid the foundation for a participatory process to shape the way South Africans respond to climate change. The theme is particularly significant as it comes at a time when South Africa is drafting the policy framework for climate change, following the Climate Change Summit in March this year.
The Long Term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS) on Climate Change was approved by cabinet in 2008. Action on climate change is seen as an investment to the future as no action will have worse consequences for the world. World Environment Day (WED) will be celebrated globally on Friday, 5 June 2009, under the theme "Your Planet needs You - UNite to Combat Climate Change." WED was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. It is one of the vehicles that the United Nations uses to stimulate worldwide awareness on the environment and enhance political attention and public action. South Africa will observe this year's celebration at Kwa-Dukuza Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, 12 June 2009 where the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Buyelwa Sonjicawill deliver a keynote address.
National Environment Month has become an annual feature on the South African calendar, with a range of awareness raising activities scheduled countrywide. Our celebrations are centred on encouraging South Africans to become active supporters of sustainable and equitable living while acknowledging that communities play a pivotal role in changing attitudes towards the environment.
National, provincial and local government as well as various environmental stakeholders will celebrate Environment Month across the country. Conferences, awareness campaigns, information sessions, tree planting and workshops are scheduled to be conducted during June. The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) will also project environment month messages at all ACSA owned airports from 1 to 7 June.
World Oceans Day will be celebrated during Environment Month on 8 June 2009 as well as World Day to Combat Desertification on 17 June 2009.
For further information on Environment Month and the activities scheduled across the country visit http://www.environment.gov.za/ or contact our call centre on 086 111 2468
Enquiries:
Albi Modise
Tel: 012 310 3122
Cell: 083 490 2871
E-mail: amodise@deat.gov.za
Kgomotso Mokgoko
Tel: 012 310 3725
Cell: 083 519 7516
E-mail: kmokgoko@deat.gov.za
Roopa Singh
Director: Communications
Tel: 012 3103566
Cell: 082 225 3076
E-mail: rsingh@deat.gov.za
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)
