Greening the economy: Play your part

every year since 2002, seeks to increase environmental con­sciousness and raise awareness on the difficult envi­ronmental challenges standing stub­bornly in Africa’s devel­opment path today.
The Africa Environment Day, estab­lished by the African Union 10 years ago, stresses the importance of sus­tainable environmental management practices at individual, community, corporate and national level.
A rugged ecosystem, polluted water­ways, polluted air, careless exploitation of natural resources amongst others have resulted in severe environmental degrada­tion in Africa.
The greatest challenge facing pres­ent- day Africa, and indeed, its unborn babies, is that of climate change and global warm­ing, which have disrupted agri­culture, Africa’s main­stay, and threatened food security.
Undoubtedly, the scarcity of food and safe, clean drinking water has led to despondency, disease, unnecessary deaths, hunger and famine in many African countries, the latest being Somalia, where thousands of people starved to death and millions went hungry.
In Zimbabwe, AED, renamed Wan­gari Maathai Day this January after the late Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel laureate, was commemorated in var­ious ways. On Friday, a day ahead of the main con­tinental celebrations, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources together with the Environ­mental Man­agement Agency hosted a sympo­sium in Harare to dis­cuss the local chal­lenges facing the environment and map the way for­ward.
The symposium, bringing together Government, business, civic society and other interested stakeholders in this debate, was due to be held under the theme “Greening the Economy”. 
The concept of the green economy has become very topical the world over, as governments seek to curb the develop­ment and impacts of climate change and a warming earth on human lives by devel­oping responsibly and sustainably.
Essentially, a green economy should be able to ensure equity between peo­ple and the environment they live in.
The green economy can be viewed as a win-win kind of situation, where eco­nomic and social development should improve human livelihoods without dis­turbing the natural ecolog­ical balance.
At the symposium, EMA was expected to show video footage depicting several of Zimbabwe’s envi­ronmental problems before presenting papers on the green economy and prudent environmental management and governance strategies.
The Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines was due to make a presentation on sustainable min­ing practices and challenges encoun­tered by the industry in a green econ­omy while the Confederation of Zim­babwe Industries zeroed in on green initiatives by industry and challenges faced thereof.
The Harare City Council, a polluter of gigantic proportions, was expected to deliberate on waste management, chal­lenges, and hopefully opportuni­ties, as the Business Council for Sus­tainable Devel­opment discussed the topic “Striving for green business through gathering and sharing knowl­edge”.
Environment Minister Francis Nhema was due to deliver the keynote address.
Elsewhere, Environment Africa, a local environment-oriented not-for-profit organisation, with several other partners were expected to participate in a tree planting project at Sherwood Golf Club in Harare, as part of cele­brations to mark AED.
Some 2 000 trees were to be planted at Sherwood, bordering one of the few remaining wetlands in Harare, said Veronica Chapman, spokesperson for Environment Africa.
The Lions Club of Harare was expected to promote the recycling of empty cans during the tree planting event, which had also attracted active participation from members of the local community.
Empty can collection points have already been set up. It is encouraging that community organisations are ­taking part in projects that improve envi­ronmental protection.
This is the route which every eco­nomic agent must now follow, volun­tary individ­ual action on protecting and improving  the environment.
Instead of one always looking up to Government for action, people should be asking themselves: “What role can I play?” Governments, which by nature are groupings of different individuals elected into public office, do not always have the answers to everything.
They never do. After all, those in Government are not as badly affected by results of extended poor environ­mental management practices such as climate change.
Those in poor marginalised com­munities are at the forefront of the damage, feeling the pain, slowly, everyday, every hour.
However, individual human efforts pulled together can produce more; more ideas, more answers, more solu­tions, more opportunities and less dependency.
So, play your part. Do not degrade yourself by degrading the environ­ment. As you go by doing your busi­ness this year, spare a thought for, engage in some serious action to maintain the integrity of the environ­ment.
Below is a list of some of the most important environment dates that people should take note of (provided by Environment Africa).
World Water Day (March 22) — This day will be celebrated under the theme: “water and food security”.
It is a means of focussing attention on the importance of freshwater and sustainable management of the same.
World Earth Day (April 22) — The theme will be: “Go green Earth Day”. Focus is on uniting communities in a global celebration of the Earth’s gifts while spreading awareness about important environmental issues.
On this day this year, individuals and organisations will demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.
World Environment Day (June 5) — Celebrating this day is about how individuals can make an impact through their own actions.
Put all these individual actions around the world together, and would get greater global impact. The theme for this year’s commemorations is:  “Going green, does it include you?”
World Population Day (July 11) —The United Nations last year launched the Seven Billion Actions programme, after the world population reached similar figures.
The programme aims to engage people and encourage action related to the opportunities and challenges pre­sented by a world of seven billion people.
Whether we can live together equi­tably on a healthy planet depends on the choices people make now.
Clean up the world month (Septem­ber) — This campaign is a community based environmental initiative that inspires and empowers communities to clean up and conserve their envi­ronments. It is a very big event that attracts at least 35 million volunteers from over 130 countries annually. 
Zimbabwe clean up week (Septem­ber 10-15) — To coincide with the world clean up month, the Zimbabwe clean up week brings together businesses, community groups, schools, Govern­ment and individuals in a range of activities and programmes that posi­tively improve local environments through clean ups.
Zimbabwe national tree planting day (December 3) — celebrated every year for past 30 years this day encour­ages people and businesses to plant trees, especially indigenous species to limit deforestation.
Several other celebrations with links to the environment such as the World Food Day and the Earth Hour are recognised every year, and many oth­ers not mentioned herein The ques­tion is: “what are you doing about it? 
God is faithful.

l [email protected]
the environment.
Instead of one always looking up to Government for action, people should be asking themselves: “What role can I play?” Governments, which by nature are groupings of different individuals elected into public office, do not always have the answers to everything.
They never do. After all, those in Government are not as badly affected by results of extended poor environ­mental management practices such as climate change. Those in poor marginalised com­munities are at the forefront of the damage, feeling the pain, slowly, everyday, every hour. However, individual human efforts pulled together can produce more; more ideas, more answers, more solu­tions, more opportunities and less dependency. So, play your part. Do not degrade yourself by degrading the environ­ment. As you go by doing your busi­ness this year, spare a thought for, engage in some serious action to maintain the integrity of the environ­ment.
Below is a list of some of the most important environment dates that people should take note of (provided by Environment Africa).
World Water Day (March 22) — This day will be celebrated under the theme “Water and Food Security”.
It is a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and sustainable management of the same.
World Earth Day (April 22) — The theme will be “Go Green Earth Day”. Focus is on uniting communities in a global celebration of the Earth’s gifts while spreading awareness about important environmental issues.
On this day this year, individuals and organisations will demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.
World Environment Day (June 5) — Celebrating this day is about how individuals can make an impact through their own actions. Put all these individual actions around the world together, and would get greater global impact. The theme for this year’s commemorations is  “Going Green, Does it Include You?”
World Population Day (July 11) —The United Nations last year launched the Seven Billion Actions programme, after the world population reached a similar figure. The programme aims to engage people and encourage action related to the opportunities and challenges pre­sented by a world of seven billion people.
Whether we can live together equi­tably on a healthy planet depends on the choices people make now.
God is faithful.

l [email protected]