The Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Malusi Gigaba, will on Thursday launch the Department’s Climate Change Policy Framework for all State Owned Companies (SOC) under his portfolio. The aim of the framework is to optimise the impact of the DPE SOC on the reduction of carbon emissions and development of the Green Economy without compromising SOC financial viability.
Further, an announcement on the move towards a biofuels strategy and the signing by SOC of the United Nations’ Global Compact (UNGC) will also be done as directed by the Policy Framework.
The framework is intended to guide longer term actions required to put South Africa on a low carbon development path and to ensure that the SOC lead as agents of change in the process of building a green economy.
Minister Gigaba will be joined by Chairpersons and Chief Executives of SOC for the launch, which will culminate in a signing of a pledge to the UNGC. The UNGC is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, thereby advancing sustainable development.
A key feature of the Climate Change Policy Framework is its emphasis on collaboration efforts between SOC and other organisations on issues of sustainable development, climate change and the green economy. One such collaboration initiative identified is the development of a SOC-driven bio fuels strategy. The move towards the development of the strategy will be announced by Minister Gigaba during the launch.
The media is invited to attend the launch as follows:
Date: 5 July 2012
Time: 7h30 for 8h00
Venue: Royal Elephant Hotel, Centurion
To confirm your attendance, kindly RSVP to:
Sizwe Hlatshwayo
Cell: 082 363 8885
E-mail: sizwe.hlatshwayo@dpe.gov.za
Enquiries:
Mayihlome Tshwete
Mayihlome.Tshwete@dpe.gov.za
Cell: 072 869 2477
Minister Gigaba to launch the Climate Change Policy Framework for DPE state owned companies
