KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize has told the international community what KwaZulu-Natal is doing to ensure a balance between the need for development and the conservation of the environment.
Dr Mkhize was part of a panel discussion on Sub-national Governments Leading the Clean Revolution hosted by The Climate Group. Also in the panel were international authorities in the clean revolution including Premier Jean Charest of Quebec, Premier Greg Selinger of Manitoba, Vice President Frederic Cadet of La Reunion, Secretary Paul Omar Gonzalez Castilla of Quintana Roo and Minister Stewart Stevenson of Scotland.
In the discussion, Dr Mkhize gave a breakdown of programs being implemented by the province, including the solar water heater project, the commitment to plant 1 million trees by 2015 (of which 300 000 have already been planted), pilots in the hydro-electricity, biotech fuels and electricity cogeneration.
Dr Mkhize is leading a delegation to Rio de Janeiro including MEC for Agriculture and Environment Affairs Mr Meshack Radebe, MEC for Cooperative Governance Ms Nomsa Dube and various senior technical staff to attend both the Climate Group conference and the United Nation's Rio+20 conference.
The delegation also interacted with a number of other countries and organisations with the aim of potential future partnerships, including the government delegation from Basque (Spain), Welsh minister for Environmental and Sustainable Development Mr John Griffiths and many others.
The delegation also interacted with exhibitors from around to the world showing off what their countries are doing for the environment.
“We are here to learn from what others have done and to see where we can form partnerships and see if we can find any potential investors who would be willing to work with us in the green economy,” said Dr Mkhize.
He said the experience has been phenomenal and gave the delegation a good idea of where the rest of the word is in terms of sustainable development.
Enquiries:
Regi Khumalo
Cell: 079 751 6108
E-mail: regi.khumalo@yahoo.com
For more information contact:
Ndabezinhle Sibiya, Premier’s Spokesperson
Cell: 082 375 4742
KZN shines at Sustainable Development Conference
Province
