EnvironConserve Magazine, Jun-Aug, 2017

“No amount of advanced technology will save us if we destroy and pollute our natural lifeblood.”

“humanity must find ways of connecting with nature, protect it, respect it and safeguard the world heritage”.

17

31

“God created for us a wonderful environment to live in but by degrading it we are going against His will.”

17

“This is our environment. It is the keystone of a sustainable future.

Without a healthy environment we TRANSITION TO THE cannot end poverty or build prosperity,” GREEN ECONOMY

21

Environmental Conservation Magazine ISSN 2071-2375

Vol. 13 No. 44

for our environment and sustainable development

June/Agust 2017

Ushs: 6500, Kshs: 250, TShs: 6000, Africa: USD15, Outside Africa: USD 30

N IO T C

EN ER

GY

E

IN

CO

RE C Y CL

UM S N

ON PT I

RE-USE MATERIAL

SUSTAINAN BLE

PR

OD

CY IEN IC FF

U

EEN ECONOMY: E R G

G WA

R STE

EDUCTION

SUS TA I NA B

LE

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2017: CELEBRATING OUR CONNECTION TO NATURE GREEN ECONOMY:LEADERS SEARCH FOR A NEW GREEN REVOLUTION TO THE 2030 AGENDA

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPENT GOALS: BUSINESSES ACTIONS TO DETERMINE ITS SUCCESS

14

22

UN OCEAN CONFERENCE: WRAPS UP WITH ACTIONS TO PROTECT MARINE LIFE

31

www.ecoprofiles.org EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

1

2

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

Editor’s Opinion Vol. 15 No. 46 May-July 2017

Group Publisher Robert Opio Editor David Andrew Matende

“CELEBRATING OUR CONNECTION TO NATURE”

C

onnecting with nature, the theme for this year’e world environment day, does not only compel humanity to be mindful and caring for nature the source of all our livelihoods, but it’s also good for our health, accordling to health studies.

But unfortunately, today many children and adults suffer from what, a renowned conservationist Richard Louv calls “nature-deficit disorder”— reduced awareness and a diminished ability to find meaning in the life around us.

Children no longer have the opportunity to play freely in nature, exploring woods or wading in a streams, and there are fewer natural areas that are accessible. Children’s time is structured, their lives more protected as parents worry about stranger danger, and insect borne diseases and germs.

Yet research shows that there are important positive correlations between human health, intelligence and nature. Studies reveal that children are healthier, happier, and perhaps even smarter and more creative when they have a connection to nature.

Nature has positive effects on human health, and being in nature relieves stress and improves physical health. Adults who work in spaces incorporating nature into their design are more productive, healthy and creative; and hospital patients with a view of nature from their window heal faster.

Therefore as world celebrated world environment day, it’s prudent that all efforts were made to preserve nature and we must not only restore natural habitats but we must also create natural habitats on our farms and ranches, in our cities, neighborhoods, commercial buildings, yards, and on our roofs, to protect the biodiversity that all living creatures, including humans need.

If we want to protect our environment and biodiversity, creating opportunities to reconnect with nature is crucial for both children and adults, we need to spend more time to let nature balance our lives.

Find small openings for nature every day, whether in the country or the city—at home, in the work place, in schools and in neighborhoods. Plant native species in your backyard and leave part of it wild, take kids fishing and hiking, build a bird feeder or go bird watching, walk in the parks, ride a bike, set up community gardens, embrace going for picnics, and/or exercise outdoors.

Staff Writer Chris Wandera

Correspondents Obadiah Ayugi - Nairobi Ben O’Nyasimi - Kigali Guest Writers Mugambwa David - Kampala Sales & Marketing Manager Robert Oduori

Advertising Executives Grace Akello Ben Byaruhanga Design & Layout Vincent A. Ooko Send articles for publication to the publisher EnviroConserve AFRICA P.O. Box 8585, Kampala, Uganda Tel: 256-414-372581, Tel/Fax:256-414- 268997 E-mail: enviroconserve@gmail.com, www.ecoprofiles.org Nairobi Office: P.O. Box 18660- 00100 Nairobi Tel: 254-20-2076903/+254-20-3505603 Fax: 254-20-2211500 0734-262734/0725-319664

Disclaimer EnviroConserve AFRICA, encourages stakeholders to submit articles for publication. The publisher reserves the right to edit all non sponsored articles before publication. Neither the publisher nor any person acting on behalf of the publisher, may be held responsible for the use to which information (content) in this publication may be put. Noncommercial reproduction authorized subject to acknowledgement of source and must obtain written permission.

Robert Opio Publisher EnviroConserve AFRICA is a publication of

Impulse Communication Options Ltd. EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

3

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

UPDATES 6 Rwanda: ADB gives US $343,000 to honey project 7 Kenya: Turkana wind power project completed 8 Kenya: Solar irrigation company overcome barriers to market 9 Kenya: Government to clean up polluted River Athi 10 Uganda: Kabale, Ntungamo, Mbarara wetlands destroyed by encroacers 11 World environment day 14 World green economy leaders to spark a new green revolution

11

ENVIRONMENT 16 NEMA and Little Hands Go Green set off environment Day activities

13 6

17 President Musevni was the guest of honour at WED event

18 Massive clean-ups around the world as humanity stands with nature

17 10

20 Get outside, connect with the planet that sustains us, urges UN

29

BUSINESS & ENVIRONMENT 22 SDGs: Businesses actions to determine the success

16 28

23 WED 2017: running to connect with nature 26 Investing for sustainable development and sustainable impact towards 2030’ SDGs 31 UN Ocean Conference wraps up with actions to protect marine life

23

21 4

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

Uganda - Updates

IRRESISTIBLY SWEET 2017 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: CELEBRATING OUR CONNECTION TO NATURE In line with global demand for sustainable development, At Kinyara Sugar we have taken strategic measures to ensure sustainability of our business practices and conservation of our natural environment.

To maintain sustainability of our business, we use renewable and recyclable material. Industrial waste are recycled and where not possible we dispose them off inline with enviromental regulations.

The effluent from our is discharged safely after undergoing natural bio-degradation, mud cake is filtered and applied to our cane plantations as manure.

Wetlands and rivers within our cane fields are left to flarish naturally.

A forestry section in our department of agriculture develops tree seedlings which are planted on hilly areas and within our housing estates.

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

5

Updates-Rwanda

RWANDA:

By Staff

African Development Bank gives US $343,000 to honey project

The African Development Bank, in partnership with the Organisation pour la Promotion de la Contribution Active de la Femme Rwandaise au Developpement (SERUKA) – a national women’s organization focusing on women’s economic empowerment in Rwanda –has launched the Rwanda Honey Value Chain Project, which aims to enhance honey production in the country.

The African Development Bank has approved a grant of approximately US $343,000 (280 million Rwandan Francs) to implement the project. The project will work directly with grassroots businesses. The implementing agency, SERUKA, is a reputable non-governmental organization with a sound track record in supporting grassroots economic empowerment initiatives in Rwanda.

The event was attended by representatives from the Rwanda Agriculture Board, the Rwanda Governance Board, the President of the Board, senior government officials, representatives of SERUKA, representatives

of beekeepers’ cooperatives and associations, as well as private-sector players in the honey value chain.

The overall goal of the Rwanda Honey Value Chain Project is to enhance the capacity of honey production cooperatives to access formal markets. The project targets 1,000 beneficiaries in Rulindo District, 80% of whom are women. It will support the targeted cooperatives through provision of simple equipment to improve production; training in honey production in accordance with the Apiary Code; and in basic business skills. It will also rehabilitate the Murambi Honey Collection Centre in order to meet certification requirements of the Rwanda Standards Board.

“Agriculture is one of the sectors identified by the Rwandan Government to drive growth.

In line with this, the Rwanda Agriculture Board is promoting the apiary sub-sector – including bee and bee products, and silkworm production under the category of commercial insects. This project will also support women’s empowerment in the

apiary sub-sector by effectively participating in the value chain,” said Halima Hashi, Principal Country Program Officer at the Bank’s Country Office in Rwanda.

The project will also provide candlemaking equipment to enable the Murambi Honey Collection Centre add value to the by-products. SERUKA will also facilitate linkages between the Honey Collection Centre and established retail chains as well as honey processors and exporters.

The AfDB grant is provided through the Africa Trade Fund (AfTRA), which was established in March 2012 with $15 million Cdn. seed fund from the Canadian Government. The Bank aims to expand AfTRA into the biggest trade facility in Africa.

This grant is complementary to the Bank’s other lending operations to support the Government of Rwanda (GoR) to achieve its Vision 2020 objectives. The Bank has an active portfolio of 18 operations in Rwanda with a total commitment of US $649 million covering both the public and private sector.

Cont: Pg 11

6

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

Updates- Kenya

KENYA:

By Enock Were

T

Turkana wind power project completed but transmission lines delaying power production

he biggest wind farm in sub-Saharan Africa is ready but consumers will wait longer as the government has not yet installed the transmission lines, the provider of the turbines said.

Danish wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems installed 365 turbines at Lake Turkana in March, completing construction in less than a year and two months ahead of schedule.

The project, which will add 310 megawatts (MW) of power capacity, is located in one of Africa’s windiest places. Costing Sh70 billion ($678 million), it is the country’s largest single private investment and closely watched by investors looking for opportunities in African renewable energy.

The wind farm had planned to begin producing power this month, but construction of the transmission line to the power grid, being built by state-run Kenya Transmission Company (KetraCo), has been delayed.

“The challenge is now to get the wind farms connected to the grid and that is indeed a project which is not with us,” head of Vestas’ Central European and sub-Saharan business Nils de Baar told Reuters at the Africa Energy Forum in Copenhagen.

“The expectation is that it will happen in early 2018,” he said, adding that the project is Vestas’ largest-ever in terms of the number of wind turbines being installed.

The 428 km power line from Loiyangalani in to Suswa was due to be completed

by October last year, but demands for compensation from landowners along the route and other issues have delayed it.

KetraCo is targeting completion of the transmission line in August, an official with the company said .

An official at Kenya Power, owner and operator of the electricity transmission system, also stressed the company intends to honour its agreement and is working to identify a number of issues regarding

compensation to the developer.

The Lake Turkana consortium consists of KP&P Africa, Aldwych International, Investment Fund for Developing Countries, Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation, Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries, Sandpiper and Vestas. Once completed, Google, a part of Alphabet Inc, will acquire Vestas’ 12.5 per cent stake in the project.

Once in operation, the Turkana Lake wind farm is expected to provide 15 per cent of the country’s total electricity needs. Kenya relies heavily on geothermal and hydro power for its electricity supply.

Despite an abundance of funding, investments in renewable energy in Africa are only developing slowly due to problems with bureaucracy and infrastructure.

Still, Vestas said it hopes to announce new wind farm projects in Morocco and West Africa “very soon”. Last year, it secured just one order on the continent, a 120 MW project in Morocco, and delivered a 181 MW project in South Africa.

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

7

Updates - Kenya

KENYA:

Strategic advice helps solar irrigation company overcome barriers to market

O

nly 25 percent of irrigable land is under irrigation in Kenya. Irrigation is key to improving agricultural production, thereby generating prosperity and employment in small farming communities.

Solar-powered drip irrigation can save up to 80 percent of water compared to current practices. In addition, it significantly reduces the cost of labour, fuel and fertiliser, while improving crop quality and yields.

“There is demand for solar irrigation systems because farmers are always looking for ways to minimise their costs,” says Samir Ibrahim, CEO and Co-Founder of Nairobi-based SunCulture.

“The largest cost farmers incur is diesel fuel for running their water pumps, with the typical farmer spending between 500 and 1500 Kenya Shillings per day.”

“We estimate that our current customers would enjoy over 151,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy, save 4.4 billion litres of freshwater and increase their yields by up to 300 percent, resulting in the production of over 24,000 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables in a year,” explains Samir.

While SunCulture’s ‘Pay-As-You-Grow’ model has succeeded in making their technology accessible to most farmers, its success depends on farmers being able to generate a steady income from the sales of their produce. This is often a challenge for small farmers, who struggle to keep their cash flowing consistently.

Energy 4 Impact has been working with SunCulture on addressing these barriers, especially in the areas of end-user financing

8

and access-to-market for smallholder farmers.

“When SunCulture approached us, it became clear that for the company to be able to expand its market reach to smallholder farmers it needed to understand the market environment in which their customers operate, and come up with a sustainable business model that fitted their needs,” says Energy 4 Impact Head of Advisory, Shashank Verma.

Energy 4 Impact conducted a study, which looked at the horticulture value chain and related dynamics (players, prices and profit cycles) for selected crops and vegetables in a number of counties in Kenya.

The study revealed that because most smallholder farmers in Kenya sell their produce at wholesale markets through brokers, their profit margin remains small. This, combined with the price volatility of horticultural produce in the wholesale markets, hampers their ability to pay for solar irrigation on a cash basis.

“Our advisory team suggested that SunCulture should adopt a strategy that would guarantee access to an assured market for the farmers, thus helping them get assured returns for their investment into a solar irrigation pump. This is important in the African context, where due to market inefficiencies, risk-averse farmers miss out on innovative solutions.

By taking out the market risk, we expect to see a higher take-up of the solar irrigation pumps by the farmers, thus creating a win-win situation for both the company and the farmer,” says Shashank.

This advisory work forms part of Energy 4

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

Impact’s Energy for Business Development (EBD) programme, funded by the World Bank, and providing advisory services and capacity building support for clean energy access to micro, small and medium enterprises in Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal and Uganda.

It also supports the productive use activities of newly electrified villages, clean cooking and women’s economic empowerment. Advice and services include business consulting, customised projects, capital raising and partnership support.

Under this programme, business advisory support has so far been extended to 31 business in East Africa and nine multi sectorial energy projects. Over 65 percent of SMEs are players in the solar market.

“We estimate that our current customers would enjoy over 151,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy, save 4.4 billion litres of freshwater and increase their yields by up to 300 percent, resulting in the production of over 24,000 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables in a year,” explains Samir.

Updates - Kenya

KENYA: Government seeks Sh2.5 billion to clean up polluted River Athi The government is seeking Sh2.5 billion to clean up River Athi, which is threatened by pollution. Water Principal Secretary Fred Segor says the ministry is in the process of setting up a team of experts to develop a plan to guide the process.

River Athi, whose source is Ngong Hills, traverses several counties in Ukambani and the Coast region.

Residents downstream have raised the alarm over the pollution, which threatens the river’s entire ecosystem.

The proposed Thwake Dam, which will be constructed at the confluence of the Athi and Thwake rivers, is also likely to be threatened if the pollution of River Athi remains unchecked.

take about 10 years. Segor said the government had set aside money in the 2016/17 budget for the clean-up. “More allocations will be made in subsequent budgets.”

The PS said legal action would be taken against industries and other institutions polluting the river.

“We are calling upon industries and all concerned institutions to strictly adhere to regulations and guidelines of waste disposal. If they fail to do this, the bodies mandated to regulate use of water and to safeguard the environment, including the Water

Resources Authority and the National Environmental Management Authority will initiate their prosecution,” he said.

Segor, who also read a speech for the Cabinet Secretary for Water and Irrigation, Eugene Wamalwa, noted that the sector faces challenges that need urgent attention by policy makers, regulators, and project implementers. According to the CS, a new water law will spearhead the development of the sector.

“The Water Act, 2016 requires restructuring and/or creation of new institutions,” he said.

Last year, the House Committee on Water and Natural Resources toured sections of the river in Yatta and Mwala constituencies, on the invitation of Yatta MP Francis Mwangangi, to assess the extend of the pollution.

The MPs resolved to ensure that the river is protected from further pollution.

Prof Segor spoke recently after opening an induction retreat for national water sector institutions’ boards of directors on the Water Act (2016) at a Machakos hotel.

He said the government has committed to clean up the river because of its strategic relevance to the country’s water needs.

“River Athi is one of our very important rivers in Kenya and that’s why we are sourcing for funds to the tune of Sh2.5 billion to see what we can do to clean up the river,” said the PS. He added that the clean-up, which would be implemented by the Government, donors, and development partners, would EnviroConserveAFRICA July/August 2015

9

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

UGANDA ENVIROMENT:

Kabale, Ntungamo, Mbarara Wetlands Destroyed by Encroacers

By Enock Were

C

limate Action Network Uganda (CAN U), a nongovernmental organisation engaged in environment conservation advocacy on Monday petitioned government to address issues of climate change.

In the petition presented by Mr Isaac Kabongo, the chairperson of the organisation, during the World Environment Day National celebrations in Ibanda District, rapid population growth (of 3.2 per cent per annum) was cited as a major cause of the widespread encroachment on environmental resources.

The petition states that political interference, government failure to enforce environmental protection compliance by investors, and inadequate funding to the environment subsector have also contributed to environment degradation.

“Uganda Wetlands mapping exercise in 2008 indicated that wetlands had reduced from 15 per cent in 1994 to less than 10.8 per cent of Uganda’s area due to pressure from industrial development, settlements, agriculture,

10

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

clay and sand mining. Currently they are less than 8 per cent of the total area,” the petition reads in part.

“Allocation to sub sector remains dismal, making it very difficult for the environmental agencies to function effectively. We note with concern the fact that much of the sub sector budget is outside the Joint Budget Support Framework and its joint assessment framework....”

Speaking at the celebrations, President Museveni said government would review environment protection law.

He, however advised citizens to degradation and cutting down

stop of

wetland forests.

The President reiterated that Kabale, Bushenyi and Ntungamo are the districts with heavily degraded wetlands. He noted that wetlands, forests and open water bodies in contribute 40 per cent of the rain the country receives while 60 per cent of it comes from oceans.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

“By invading wetlands we are cutting off 40 per cent of the rain, therefore we are inviting death to ourselves,” said Mr Museveni.

wetland resources are being squeezed because of agricultural activities, industrial development and urbanisation.”

According to the district environment officer, Mr Joseph Murangira, 71 of the 75 gazzeted wetlands in Kabale have been destroyed.

The degraded wetlands in Mbarara are Rucece in Nyakayojo Division, Rubindi, Rushanje, Kibingo, Kashasha, Bujaga, and Kibuba-Kongoro -Nyakaikara.

However, restoration of wetlands has been done in the lower part of Rucece, 118 acres of Nyakambu wetland shared by Mbarara and Sheema districts formerly degraded have been restored while in KashashaKibingo -Rushanje wetland recovery is at 60 per cent.

To combat this, Mr Murangira called for both central government and the local leadership intervention to promote wetland restoration. “If not restored, our district will face challenges of desertification and water shortages,” he said.

Residents in the various areas with wetlands have turned them into gardens, dairy and fish farms.

Others carry out sand mining and brick making.

The Kabale District speaker, Ms Loy Zikampereza, says central government will have to compensate the community in case of eviction since they entirely depend on the wetlands.

“For more than 35 years, residents in Rubaya Sub-county have been using Kahungye wetland to grow Irish potatos.

Waking up with a proposal to evict them without providing an alternative will be very unfair,” Ms Zikampereza said.

The Ntungamo natural resources officer, Ms Dinah Tumwebaze Joga, said: “ In Itojo Sub-county, Nyamukana and Nyaruteme wetlands have not been spared,” adding that they are currently addressing more than 100 cases environmental degradation.

President Museveni recently ordered for immediate vacation of wetlands in Ntungamo especially Kyamate and Keitanturegye wetlands in the municipality.

“Agriculture is one of the sectors identified by the Rwandan Government to drive growth.

This project is in line with the Bank’s High 5 priority areas, particularly ‘Feed Africa’, which seeks to unlock the potential of agriculture in improving the lives of African people.

The Bank received strong endorsement from the Rwanda Governance Board, Rwanda Agriculture Board and Rulindo District Assembly, recommending SERUKA as a suitable implementing agency for this project. To ensure coherence with Government plans, the project will also have a Steering Committee comprising all key Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as representatives from the private sector.

“We have notified the encroachers including the Ntungamo Woman MP Beatrice Rwakimari to restore the wetland by cutting down trees they had planted,” Mr Ahimbisibwe said.

“The project is going to boost our incomes as beekeepers in the region as we will have increased production of honey,” said Rwabuhungu Venant, President of the Murambi Honey Collections Centre. “It will also equip us to bypass intermediaries and interact directly with the external market in addition to enabling us to produce multiple other honey-based products such as candles and wax.”

However, the Resident District Commissioner, Ms Justine Mbabazi, noted that restoring of wetlands will not be an easy task as the rich are the biggest encroachers. It is alleged that Mr Steven Rwangyezi, the director Ndere centre, has dug several fish ponds in Nyaruteme Wetland Itojo Sub-county.

Niwemfura Odette, President of one of the beekeepers cooperatives in Murambi and a widow with four children, stressed how the project would increase the capacity of her members to acquire additional beehives. “We have high expectations,” she said.

The Bushenyi District environment officer, Mr Vincent Kataate, attributed wetland destruction to weak government policies and poor funding of the environment staff.

Hashi described the honey value chain project as a testament to the Bank’s excellent partnership with the Government of Rwanda. It is also hoped that this pilot project will provide useful lessons to all stakeholders to support women’s empowerment through trade.

The Ntungamo town clerk, Mr Christopher Ahimbisibwe, revealed that the encroachers had planted eucalyptus trees.

Speaking to Daily Monitor, the National Environment Management Authority focal person for South-Western region, Mr Jeconious Musingwire, said: “About 50 per cent of

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

11

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

AGR JOINS THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA AND THE REST OF WORLD COMMUNITY TO COMMEMORATE 2017 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY!

By Staff Writer

AGR Geochemical Laboratory is a Ugandan Company providing geochemical analytical and field services to mining industry.

AGR Geochemical Laboratory has alliances with various commercial geochemical laboratories worldwide that are certified in over 1000 parameters of geochemical analysis. This broad scope allows us to test for gold, platinum group metals and base metals in stream sediments, soil, rock chips, and drill hole cuttings.

AGR Geochemical of services for

Laboratory geochemical

provides analysis

Sample preparation; Aqua Regia Digestion for Gold and Multi-Elements; Four Acid Digestion for Multi-Elements; Partial Digestion Geochemistry; Screen Fire Assay for Gold; Ultratrace and Trace Element analysis

by AAS and ICP-OES; X-ray Fluorescence.

12

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

a range including:

QUALITY & COMPLLIANCE Geochemical Laboratory is committed to delivering quality results and outstanding level of personalized service to our clients. AGR Geochemical Laboratory is committed to providing expected turnaround of quality results and dedicated to customer service in maintaining the security of samples and the results in our care.

Geochemical Laboratory complies with high standards of professional conduct, ethical behavior and integrity of our services and is committed to maintaining the total confidence of its customers. AGR’s also ensures strict compliance with local, national and international laws, the accuracy, validity of reports and certificates that it provides to customers.

103-106 Sebugwawo Road, Entebbe P.O Box 37574, Kampala, Uganda Phone: +256 392 174 806, Fax: +256 392 174 806, Email: admin@agr-afr.com www.agr-afr.com

CONSERVATION

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY:

Minister Kitutu flags off Little Hands Go Green and NEMA World Environmental Day caravan

The

state Minister for Environment Hon Kitutu Kimono, the Executive Director National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) Dr Tom Okurut, the Woman MP for Ibanda Hon Jovin Kaliisa and the CEO Little Hands Go Green Joseph Masembe flagged off the World Environment Day Celebration Caravan at the NEMA OFFICES in Kampala.

The team that set off planted trees along the route to Ibanda as part of the drive to bring to life this year’s World Environment Day theme of “CONNECT WITH NATURE” The team planted trees in Mpigi, and Buwama as well as Nkozi. Mpigi UMEA primary school, St Kizito Mpigi primary school are some of the schools that joined this noble cause.

‘Connecting People to Nature’, the theme for World

Environment Day 2017, implores people to get outdoors and into nature, to appreciate its beauty and its importance, and to take forward the call to protect the Earth that we share.

World Environment Day is the biggest annual event for positive environmental action and takes place every 5 June.

A number of activities were held to mark the World Environment Day 2017 where President Yoweri Museveni was the chief guest, tree planting activities in Mbarara, Masaka and Ibanda and an Environmental Run in Ibanda on Sunday among others Little Hands go Green Director Joseph Masembe said “This year’s theme invites all of us to think about how we are part of nature and how warmly we depend on it. It challenges us to find fun and exciting ways to experience and appreciate this vital relationship.

AN ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED COMPANY

We supply international quality corrugated boxes to the following Sectors: FMCG, Beverages, Flower, Dairy, Tea & Coffee, Fisheries, Fruits & Vegetables, Cosmetics, Tobacco, Pharmaceutical, Chick, Pizza etc.

Factory: Block 189, Kyagwe, Lwanyonyi Village, P. O. Box 817, Mukono District, Mukono Uganda, Tel: +256 414 291512, Mob: +256 752 333172.

TOWN OFFICE: Plot 2, City Apartments, opp- Sure House, Bombo Road. Tel: +256 0312 266 231, WEBSITE: www.riley.co.ug EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

13

GREEN ECONOMY

WORLD GREEN ECONOMY:

leaders look for ways to spark a new green revolution and set a path to the 2030 Agenda

By Steven Mumbo

W

orld green economy leaders looking for a new green revolution – and to set a path to the 2030 Agenda Berlin, Germany – Around 40 ministers, CEOs, high-level representatives of UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations and trade unions as well as more than 300 sustainable development experts met Berlin in recently for the second global forum on green economy, renowned economists, including Jeffrey Sachs and Pavan Sukhdev, to explore ways of fighting inequalities and environmental degradation, based on the transformational goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

During the two-day event, they discussed the root economic causes of the growing exploitation of natural resources, climate change and pollution. They also looked at the increasing inequalities which are giving rise to radical populism in many parts of the world.

The second conference of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy – an alliance of five UN agencies, namely UN Environment, ILO, UNDP, UNIDO, and UNITAR, and 11 countries – is being hosted by the German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.

“Our current economic practices are destroying our planet and hence the resources on which our lives depend. We have already exceeded several planetary boundaries. Climate change is the most obvious sign that things are getting out of hand.

“The time has come to reconsider our economic practices and our lifestyles.

We need a different kind of growth – one which does not create social divides and which respects the planetary boundaries. Only real change can make the national economy of every country more sustainable and resilient.”

“The concept of sustainability is a powerful tool, which takes into consideration the economic, social and environmental dimensions,” said Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs of South Africa. “Economies or economic growth will have to be socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

“We don’t have to choose between a healthy environment and a healthy economy: we can have both,” said UN Environment head, Erik Solheim. “Regardless of current politics, the irreversible global trend is to make our economies cleaner, fairer and more stable.

What we need now is a great acceleration – a new green revolution – to make sure we achieve inclusive green economy while there is still enough green to go around.”

“South Africa is currently implementing programmes to promote energy efficiency, green transport, sustainable housing and climate resilient agriculture.

Significant investments have already been made in different sectors – notably in the energy sector.”

New funds, new members The Partnership for Action on Green Economy, hosted by UN Environment, is set to step up its support for developing countries, thanks to new donations announced at the conference. Contributions from the European Commission, Germany, Finland, Republic of Korea, Norway and Sweden will add close to €15 million to the Partnership’s budget.

“The Sustainable Development Goals will not become a reality until they are powered by decisive action of both governments and private companies, said Barbara Hendricks, Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety of Germany.

The Partnership has been further enriched by welcoming two new member countries in its ranks: Uruguay and Guyana. Both states have shown unparalleled leadership on inclusive green economy by including green goals and targets into their national and local development and climate action plans.

14

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

Inclusive Wealth Index UN Environment will release later this year its bi-annual Inclusive Wealth Report, which measures the wealth of nations in terms of progress, well-being and long-term sustainability. Going beyond conventional measures of economic performance such as Gross Domestic Product, the Inclusive Wealth Index takes into account all the assets that contribute to human well-being, including manufactured, human and natural capital.

A preview of the report, unveiled in Berlin, finds that between 1990 and 2014, more than 75 per cent of the 202 countries analysed are depleting or barely maintaining their natural capital.

It means that less than one quarter of the world’s countries have managed to increase the value of their agriculture, land, forest resources, fossil fuels, minerals and fisheries. The preview concludes that countries are drawing down their natural wealth to create short term gains in GDP.

Virtual Solutions Centre for Green Growth Also in Berlin, the Green Growth Knowledge Platform is launching the Virtual Policy Solutions Centre which builds on two new tools: the Best Practices Database and the Green Growth Expert Connect. It is generously supported by the Governments of Germany and Switzerland, as well as the Partnership for Action on Green Economy, and will provide policy makers with direct access to the world’s leading green economy experts and over 150 case studies and best practices on how to ensure a stable, equitable and green growth.

Integrity, Deligence and Undying quest for Chanllenges 2017 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY:

CELEBRATING OUR “CONNECTION TO NATURE” OUR EXPERTISE

President Museveni, Commissioning Omugo Water Project

Drilling of large diameter wells

Sumadhura Technologies is involved in geophysical investigations, drilling of hand pumps, production well fields and geothermal wells. (Supply and installation of custom design systems). Electric, Solar, Wind powered water pumps. Rooftop Solutions, Energy saving LEDs, along with generators and grid power to provide hybrid solutions, active and passive solutions for industries.

Active solutions-Energy monitoring systems of assets using IOT (internet of things).

Passive solutions-smart LED retrofits VFD motors.

Water supply system

Test pumping of high yielding wells up to 150 Cum per meter

Supply, installation and service of engineering equipment, trucks, tractors and earth moving equipment from across the globe.

Construction of urban and rural water supply systems, low cost housing projects, technical schools, police stations and health centres, etc.

Sumadhura Technologies also deals in pumps and uPVC column pipes from Coupler & SS Wirelock TM. The pumps assembled and installed by Sumadhura, are of expertise gained for over 5 decades of experience, endurance and workmanship. These products are engineered to perfection with utmost care and stringent quality control systems. Sumadhura has installed over 500 pumps over the last 10 years.

Combination drilling rig with Simultaneous casing & drilling technology

Stainless steel 304 grade Submersible and surface pumps

WAY

GET IT THE

“WE EXPERESS THE EARTH’S EXPRESSION” UGANDA OFFICE: Plot 83 Chorley Crescent PortBell Luzira Kampala Tel: +256 414 222 957 Tel/Fax:+256 414 222 957

COMOROS OFFICE Sumadhura Technologies Ltd Bp 1332, Moroni Comoros Union Des Comoros Contact: +2693483904

Email: response@sumadhura.co.ug www.sumadhuratechnologies.com 15

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017 Wind turbines for pumping water from Bore holes

Drilling of geo thermal wells in Kasese Uganda 330 meters BGL

NEMA’s Executive Director, Dr. Tom Okurut, setting off WED celebrations caravan.

Business & Environment

WORL ENVIRONMENT DAY:

T

NEMA and Little Hands Go Green set off World Environment Day activities

o mark World Environment Day, NEMA and Little Hands Go Green, an organization started by Joseph Masembe that emphasizes green education in children in order to create positive change for the future flagged off the World Environment Day Celebration Caravan.

Primary School, St. Kizito Mpigi Primary School are some of the schools that joined the noble caravan to Nkozi town, Mpigi and Buwama districts in central Uganda.

The caravan went through Masaka, Lwengo, Lyatonde and Mbarara districts with similar activities before reaching Ibanda, at National Environment Day

The Caravan took off at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) headquarters in Kampala in the company of the State Minister for Environment, Hon Kitutu Kimono, the Executive Director for NEMA, Dr. Tom Okuru and Ibanda District’s Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Jovrine Kaliisa Kyomukama.

The world environment day is a flagship avenue for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues from marine pollution and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.

Involving school children in this event, the Little Hands Go Green founder and CEO, Joseph Masembe, said is very crucial as they are the future leaders. The caravan after leaving Kampala planted trees along the route to Ibanda District. Mpigi UMEA

16

celebrations took place. President Yoweri Museveni was the chief guest.

On the eve of the celebrations, an environmental run took place at Kibubura Integrated Playgrounds in Ibanda District.

NEMA MD Dr Tom Okurut flagged off the World Environment Day Celebration caravan led by the CEO of Little Hands Go Green Joseph Masembe in Kampala.

“CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE”

2017 World Enviroment Day Tembo Steels joins the rest of Ugandans to celebrate 2017 World Environment Day, with renewed commitment to scrap recycling and conserving our environment

THE LEADING SCRAP RECYCLING COMPANY IN EAST AFRICA The Leading producer of LOW CARBON STEEL in the world from cast iron in 16 capacity.

SCRAP being scarce in the region, our innovation is adding hope as an alternative raw material for producing steel in East Africa.

INDEGENOUS STEEL. INTERNATIONAL QUALITY!

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

Kampala, Road, Crane Bank House P.O. Box 26373 Kampala, Uganda Tel: +256 414 500 086/87 Direct Fax: +256 414 500 083 Email: info@mail.tembosteels.co.ug www.tembosteels.co.ug

An ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Company

WORLDENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT DAY

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY:

President Musevni was the guest of honour

T

By Enock Were

he President Museveni was chief guest at celebrations marking the World Environmental Day held in Ibanda Municipality, Ibanda district in South Western Uganda, the President said that humanity’s interference with the environment and nature is doing a great disservice to themselves and will in the end pay a heavy price as a result of degrading the environment.

President Museveni, enlisted several benefits that humanity gets by safeguarding the environment, said that attacking and degrading the environment, humanity is going against God’s wish and plans for mankind.

He said that God created all features in the world with a purpose to benefit mankind and it is wrong for people to invade and use particular features for wrongful purposes.

“God created for us a wonderful environment to live in but by degrading it we are going against His will. Water is our life and survival.

Not even animals, or ourselves, can survive without water. There is no reason why we should interfere with anything related to water and the environment,” President Museveni said.

“We have not had enough rains for the last

Inset photo: UNDP - Uganda Country Director, Ms. Rosa Malanga, two seasons in Uganda and experts attribute it to the attack on the environment by people who invaded wetlands, forests, lakes and rivers that contribute 40% of the rains we get and we can’t go on like that,” he added.

forests and water bodies are important rain catchment areas and that whoever attacked them in a country like Uganda that is largely agricultural and dependent on rainfall, must be resisted.

The President, therefore, said that government is soon amending and strengthening the environment protection law to ensure that nobody should do any activity in a radius of 50 meters from a river bank, 200 meters from a lake shore and advised all people living or practicing agriculture in wetlands and forestry reserves, to leave them peacefully.

On behalf of the United Nations, the United Nations Development Program Country Director, Ms. Rosa Malanga, said that humanity must find ways of connecting with nature, protect it, respect it and safeguard the world heritage. She commended Uganda for being one of the few countries that have put in place a legal framework to protect the environment.

Mr. Museveni further said that protecting the environment is also important for tourism noting that the sector earns the country much more foreign exchange than most economic activities the country is engaged in.

The French Ambassador to Uganda, Ms. Stephanie Rivoal, noted that humanity shares the same planet and there must be a collective duty to protect it selfishly for the sake of the future generations.

The President, described the environment as the genetic bank, and appealed to all citizens of Uganda to prioritize environmental protection for the good of the current and future generations. He emphasized that they ought to treat whoever is attacking the environment as their number one enemy.

She said that the planet belongs to nobody but to everybody and it is, therefore, a duty of everybody to ensure that it is safe for humanity. She appealed to developed countries who contributed greatly to climate change to take a leading role in mitigating the causes of climate change.

The Minister of Water and Environment, Mr. Sam Cheptoris, said that wetlands,

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

17

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

SUGAR CORPORATION Our Distillery Effluent Zero Discharge:

works in harmony with our envrionment Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (SCOUL) was established in the year 1924 and is one of the leading sugar manufacturing companies in Uganda. Since its inception, SCOUL is one of the players in the development of Uganda’s economy and is also one of the largest employers in the country.The company is always focused on the product quality, its people and sustainability of its resources.

Our sugar production capacity is 50,000 MT p.a. and Molasses generated produces over 9 million liters p.a of alcohol. The ethanol process produces 109.5 million liters p.a

Management System certified companies.

The company is committed to clean and healthy environment through compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

To emphasis this commitment, the company adopted cleaner production technologies, to minimize waste, to enhance resource use and efficiency, to prevent pollution, reduce environmental risks and liabilities, and among others to achieve greater competiveness.

SPENT WASH Treatment Process

Distillery spent wash is the unwanted Environmental Sustainability and residual liquid waste generated during alcohol production and pollution caused by Compliance Over view of the Lagoon for retaining the Distillery Effluent and the Pump House it is one of the most critical environmental SCOUL was the first sugar company to issue, having extremely high COD of acquire ISO 9001 certification, and is (120,000 – 130,000) mg/l and BOD among the few ISO 14001 Environmental (60,000 - 65,000) mg/l. If discharged

Over view of the Lagoon for retaining the Distillery Effluent and the Pump House

18

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

untreated or partially treated the effluent might find access to water courses and with its characteristic of unpleasant oduor it poses a serious threat to the water quality in the area it is discharged. A number of clean up technologies have been put into practice around the world.

At SCOUL, we have put up Bio-digester for treatment of SPENT WASH. The spent wash is directed into a 110 million litre bio-digester for biological treatment. This undergoes 80% BOD reduction and 70% COD reduction. Bio-gas is also generated after the treatment and used in the boiler to generate steam which runs the distillery.

Bio-Compost Production The effluent from the digester after treatment cannot be released into the environment because it has high colour

SpSS

Spraying and Tilling

OF UGANDA LTD Test Results Obtained From NARO lab content of 20,638 PtCo, BOD of 6,000 mg/l, COD of 36,000 mg/l and TSS of 22,700 mg/l, and this is against the National Standard of effluent discharge into the environment.

SCOUL being environmentally sensitive and compliant company, the management made various consultations and a new technology that is ZERO DISCHARGE was introduced which involves utilization of the highly concentrated effluent with press mud obtained from sugar processed to produce an organic fertilizer called BIOCOMPOST. What Bio Compost is?

This Overview is a dark ofbrown substanceProduction obtained area the Bio-compost after mixing press mud, boiler ash, bagasse and distillery effluent.The Bio compost cycle takes 65 days after which it is ready for application in the sugar cane plantations as manure.

activity by the Aero Tiller

OC

PH Desired Values

BCV

7

7.8

OM

N

P

5.15

0.5

68.5

Ca 3280

Mg

K

S

145 138.5

10.52 18.2 0.76 1694.9 13023.9 1895.6 1517.5 1521.5

• • • • • • • • •

OC….. Organic Carbon (%) OM ….Organic Matter (%) N…. Nitrogen (%) P … Phosphorus (mg/l) Spraying and Tilling activity by the Aero Tiller Ca ….Calcium (mg/l) Mg…. Magnesium (mg/l) K ….Potassium (mg/l) S….. Soluble Sulphur (mg/l) BCV – Bio Compost Values

Overview of the Bio-compost Production area

www.mehtagroup.com/sugar.html

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

19

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

GET OUTSIDE: Connect with the planet that sustains us, urges UN

By Enock Were

W

ith the theme of this year’s World Environment Day – ‘Connecting People to Nature’ – aimed at highlighting the well-documented physical and mental health benefits of being in nature, the United Nations is today flagging the vast benefits of such engagement, from food security and improved health to reliable water supply and climatic stability.

“This is our environment. It is the keystone of a sustainable future. Without a healthy

UN Environment chief; Erik Solheim

environment we cannot end poverty or build prosperity,” said Secretary-General António Guterres in a video message on the Day, commemorated annually on 5 June.

“On World Environment Day – and every day – let us reconnect with nature. Let us cherish the planet that protects us,” concluded Mr. Guterres.

Pointing to land, water oceans, forests, and “the air that we breathe,” the UN chief reaffirmed that everyone has a role to play “in protecting our only home,” including using less plastics, driving less, wasting less food and “teaching each other to care.”

World Environment Day is the largest global day for positive environmental action. This year, the main celebrations are hosted by Canada. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) saysthousands of people across six continents are joining massive cleanups of beaches and parks, countries

Manufacturers of all types Paper Bags (environment-friendly), branded packaging material for Supermarkets, Groceries, Grain milling, Bakeries, Cement and Pharmaceutical industries, etc.

CRANE PAPER BAGS LTD, P.O. Box 3335, Kampala, BWEYOGERERE INDUSTRIAL PARK, Plot No. 1,3 & 5, 1st Street, Bweyogere, Kakajjo. Tel: 0393 333 379, Email: creanepaperbagsltd@gmail.com/admin@cranepaperbags.com

20

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

ENVIRONMENT UN Secretary-General: António Guterres

are protecting 1,600 square kilometres of land, and over 30 iconic landmarks, including the Empire State Building, ‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue in Rio, and Niagara Falls, will light up in green.

The Day’s theme encourages people to simply ‘get back outdoors’ The 2017 edition of the Day coincides with the opening at UN Headquarters in New York of The Ocean Conference, the first-ever high-level global meeting on conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The Governments of Fiji and Sweden have the co-hosting responsibilities of the Conference.

The 2030 Agenda resolves “to ensure the lasting protection ofthe planet and its natural resources,” in particular, the Agenda’s associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14 and 15 focus on respectively conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources and on protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of land ecosystems.

sites– often overlying key strategic surface or groundwater resources and which bring together more than 2,000 exceptional sites around the world.

development, respectful of the boundaries of the planet,” she said, calling women and men everywhere “to connect with the nature around them that gives beauty, meaning and harmony to the lives we lead.”

“All of them employ local people and “Our entire modern life, with its skyscrapers have their doors wide open to the public, and smartphones, stands on a delicate because we know now this is the surest foundation of natural systems,” said path to more inclusive and sustainable UN Environment chief Erik Solheim An Aquasan Tec Group Company in remarks on the Day. “Today, these foundations are shaking, undermined by man-made climate change, deforestation and extinctions. No amount of advanced Innovative solutions for water, sanitation and food security technology will save us if we destroy Water Tanks Lifeline Gutters and pollute our natural lifeblood.”

CRESTANKS

Billions of rural people around the world spend every working day ‘connected to nature’ and appreciate their dependence on natural water supplies and how nature support their livelihoods in the Incorporates 2.3% carbon black Rentangular reinforced profile form of fertile soil. They are among the first to suffer when ecosystems 30Yrs Expected lifespan High water flow rate are threatened, whether by pollution, SaTo climate change or over-exploitation. Blueflame BIoslurriGaz ‘Connect with nature’ by visiting an iconic UNECSO-designated site In line with the theme of the Day, ‘Connecting People with Nature,’ Irina Bokova, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, invitedeveryone to take time out from busy lives and to visit one of UNESCO’s sites – including Biosphere Reserves, many Global Geoparks and iconic World Heritage

Automatically seals to eliminate flies Your own Fertilizer and Biogas factory

Closes quickly to block sites smells and from pit

Plot No. 256, Jinja Road, Bweyogerere - Namanve P.O Box 11381, Kampla - Uganda Tel: +256 414 235470/348973, +2560393 262015/6, Mob: +256 776 766571, +256 751 766571 SHOWROOM: 7th Street Oxford Station Industrial Area, Contact Mob: +256 750 766410 www.crestanks.co.ug | info@crestanks.co.ug EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

21

SUSTANABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPENT GOALS:

Businesses Actions to determine the success

By Enock Were “We are at a key moment in the evolution of sustainability; transparency is fast becoming the new paradigm for conducting business. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have ushered in a new era of global development objectives to tackle the world’s most pressing problems, and the active participation of business is a principle driver in achieving these goals.

To date, best practices for corporate reporting on the UN Sustainable Development Goals have yet to be established. To address this issue, GRI and the UN Global Compact have initiated a ground-breaking initiative, ‘Reporting on the SDGs’. “We believe that business action will determine the success of the ambitious 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and the achievement of the SDGs. GRI and the UN Global Compact work with many thousands of businesses, and our partnership will enable them to incorporate SDG reporting into their existing processes, empowering them to act and make the achievement of the SDGs a reality.” says GRI’s Deputy Chief Executive Teresa Fogelberg.

GRI and the UN Global Compact are currently finalizing engagement with leading organizations to join an Action Platform, a multi-stakeholder movement that will play a pivotal role shaping the future of corporate reporting on the SDGs. The Platform aims to leverage the GRI Standards – the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards – and the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact.

Several organizations have already joined the two formations of the Action Platform.

The Corporate Action Group (CAG) comprising business representatives, will serve as a business engagement and peer learning forum, where members can show leadership in their SDG practices by helping define and promote their

22

SDGs.

on Sustainable Development in July 2017.

Since February, prominent corporations have been joining the Corporate Action Group. One of these is Danone, a global food company with a mission to achieve health through food. “Joining the Action Platform is a strategic choice for Danone, a commitment to solving pressing global issues, such as hunger. The goals are closely interlinked, and achieving them requires contribution across sectors.

In our view, the SDGs should be a top priority for business leaders worldwide” said Laura Palmeiro, Sustainability Integration Director at Danone.

Several members have also joined the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee recently, including the World Bank, Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), Oxfam, RobecoSAM, UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the Dutch and Colombian governments.

business

contributions

to

the

Grupo Nutresa, Colombia’s leading processed food company highlights the power of collaboration. “Being part of the Action Platform is a great opportunity to share knowledge, experiences and best practices. It has also been very useful to understand how we can incorporate SDGs into the decision-making process, strategies, corporate goals and metrics,” states Sol Beatriz Arango, President of Services and Vice President of Sustainable Development at Grupo Nutresa.

Other corporate members include Coca-Cola, Cemex, Telecom Italia, Nestle and Fuji Xerox, to name a few.

The Multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee (MAC) comprises the CAG plus representatives from governments, international and civil society organizations, investors, trade unions, data users, statistical offices and academics, and will feed into the vital research done by the UN Global Compact and GRI. The MAC will act as a forward-looking international leadership group that guides companies to embrace the SDGs and demonstrate their contribution through reporting. The MAC will play a key role in delivering a global list of prioritized disclosures for tracking business contributions to the SDGs, to be presented during the UN High-level Political Forum

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

The Action Platform was launched in The Hague on 27th of March with an in-person event hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Using a multi-stakeholder approach, the Action Platform will compile relevant disclosures and guidance for businesses to report on their contribution to the SDGs. “Our ambition is to create a coherent, smart, and approachable framework for how businesses can think about and report on the SDGs,” said Carrie Hall, Chief, Impact Reporting at UN Global Compact. The list of business disclosures for reporting on the SDGs will be released at the UN High-level Political Forum in July. Further guidance and best practices will follow in September.

The second year of the program will be focused on action. “In this phase, the emphasis will be on mobilizing businesses to show commitment towards the Agenda 2030: to demonstrate tangible steps in making an impact towards achieving the SDGs”, affirms Fogelberg.

Important Dates 18 July: Releasing the list of priority business disclosures at the High-level Political Forum in New York. Business Day hosted by the UN Global Compact.

18 September: Publishing guidance and best practices for reporting on the SDGs

BUSINESS & ENVIRONMENT

at the UN General Assembly in New York.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY :

Running to Connect with Nature

By Steve Mumbo

‘C

onnecting People to Nature’, the theme for World Environment Day 2017, implores us to get outdoors and into nature, to appreciate its beauty and its importance, and to take forward the call to protect the Earth that we share.

World Environment Day is the biggest annual event for positive environmental action and takes place every 5 June. This year’s host country Canada got to choose the theme and will be at the centre of celebrations around the planet.

World Environment Day is a day for everyone, everywhere. Since it began in 1972, global citizens have organized many thousands of events, from neighbourhood clean-ups, to action against wildlife crime, to replanting forests.

This year’s theme invites you to think about how we are part of nature and how intimately we depend on it. It challenges us to find fun and exciting ways to experience and cherish this vital relationship.

The value of nature

food; scientists develop medicines using genetic material drawn from the millions of species that make up Earth’s astounding biological diversity.

Billions of rural people around the world spend every working day ‘connected to nature’ and appreciate full well their dependence on natural water supplies and how nature provides their livelihoods in the form of fertile soil. They are among the first to suffer when ecosystems are threatened, whether by pollution, climate change or over-exploitation.

Nature’s gifts are often hard to value in monetary terms. Like clean air, they are often taken for granted, at least until they become scarce. However, economists are developing ways to measure the multitrillion-dollar worth of many so-called ‘ecosystem services’, from insects pollinating fruit trees in the orchards of California to the leisure, health and spiritual benefits of a hike up a Himalayan valley.

Hit the park

In recent decades, scientific advances as well as growing environmental problems such as global warming are helping us to understand the countless ways in which natural systems support our own prosperity and well-being.

This year’s World Environment Day is an ideal occasion to go out and enjoy your country’s national parks and other wilderness areas. Park authorities in some countries may follow Canada’s example and waive or reduce park entry fees on June 5 or for a longer period.

For example, the world’s oceans, forests and soils act as vast stores for greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane; farmers and fisher-folk harness nature on land and under water to provide us with

Once you are there, why not set yourself a challenge (seek out a rare mammal, identify five butterflies, reach the remotest corner of the park). Record what you see, and send us a photo of yourself and/or your discoveries

so we can post it on our digital channels and encourage others to go exploring too.

You could join the growing number of citizen scientists. More and more smartphone apps help you log your sightings and connect with others who can identify the species. The records feed into conservation strategies and map the effects of climate change on biodiversity.

Nature up close Connecting to nature can involve all the physical senses: why not take off your shoes and get your feet (and hands) dirty; don’t just look at the beautiful lake, jump in! Take a hike at night and rely on your ears and nose to experience nature.

You can also connect with nature in the city, where major parks can be a green lung and a hub of biodiversity. Why not do your bit to green the urban environment, by greening your street or a derelict site, or planting a window box? You could put a spade in the soil or lift a paving slab and see what creatures live beneath.

Wherever you are, you could vow to pick up 10 (or 100) pieces of trash, or take inspiration from the citizens of Mumbai, India, and organize a mass beach clean-up.

In the age of asphalt and smartphones and among the distractions of modern life, connections with nature can be fleeting.

But with your help, World Environment Day can make clearer than ever that we need harmony between humanity and nature so that both are able to thrive.

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

23

5th June, is the World Environment Day. This year’s theme ‘Connecting People to nature – in the city and on the land, from the poles to the equator’ invites you to think about how we are part of nature and how intimately we depend on it. It challenges us to find fun and exciting ways to experience and cherish this vital relationship.

ESKOM UGANDA Joins the World in Celebrating World Environment Day with Renewed Commitment to Promote and Sustain the Environment

B

illions of rural people around the world spend every working day ‘connected to nature’ and appreciate full well their dependence on natural water supplies and how nature provides their livelihoods in the form of fertile soil. They are however among the first to suffer when ecosystems are threatened, whether by pollution, climate change or over-exploitation.

According to the Convention of Biological Diversity, the Uganda’s forests harbor at least 7.5 percent of the world’s known mammal species, 10.2 percent of our bird species, and 6.8 percent of the world’s birds. But now the country’s rich natural heritage is under severe threat due to a massive loss in forest cover, a loss that has increased at a very high rate in recent years.

According to the 2012 National State of the Environment report, Uganda’s forest area is being lost at a rate of 1.8 percent per year.

In total, between 1990 and 2010, Uganda lost 31 percent of its forest cover — a decline from 5 million hectares to 3.6 million hectares between 1990 and 2010. Analysis shows that Mayuge District has lost all its forest cover. Mayuge is followed by Wakiso which has a deforestation rate of (86.7%) Mubende (79.0%), Mityana (59.6%) and Kabaale (48.9%) respectively. The leading cause of deforestation is increased demand for agricultural land, charcoal and fuel wood by the rapid population growth.

That is alarming and not sustainable.

Eskom Uganda’s contribution At Eskom we believe in the principle of Zero harm to the environment. For this reason, Eskom Uganda located in Jinja and Buikwe districts, has planted over 40,000 pine trees in the past 3 years in Busoga

24

region in partnership with Busoga Kingdom and District authorities.

This has been done through its implementing partners RUTI Association- a local organization of women and youth dealing in plant seedlings, recognizing that climate change and its accompanying sustainability challenges is a global phenomenon.

We are very proud to be a strong supporter of this celebration, driving the issues around climate change both locally and in the national arena. We believe the impact of climate change is accelerating, and we want to make sure we are as supportive and pro-active as we can be.

Eskom Uganda provides about 40% of Uganda’s electricity supply through prudent operation of Nalubaale and Kiira Power Stations. Water is a vital resource in Uganda, and it is critical to Eskom’s business. Eskom plays a leading role in the protection of this valuable resource associated with its activities through implementation of water and waste management measures.

This is basically to ensure prevention of pollution to the environment because it operates one of the most significant power plants in the country.

The operation and maintenance of the hydropower plants uses River Nile as a raw material to generate hydroelectricity.

Water discharges from the power plants are regulated by the Directorate of Water Resource Management (DWRM) through issuance of regular water permits to ensure discharges are

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

within the agreed curve. The multi-purpose nature of the River Nile means balance has to be maintained between water resources for domestic use and power generation.

In partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Eskom Uganda Limited held the first regional sustainable energy campaign under the theme ‘Sustainable Energy Utilization for a better Environment’.

The aim of the campaign was to educate the public on energy efficiency practices and behaviors, promote the use of renewable energy technologies such as solar, biomass, enable the public/consumers interact with service and product providers in the renewable energy sector and highlight government’s policy framework on clean energy. This is in agreement with Uganda’s National Development plan and Vision 2040 which places energy as one of the three major pillars for social-economic transformation of Uganda.

Regular environmental audits are conducted to ensure compliance with international, company and national legislative requirements which include water quality, erosion and social aspects of the complex’s operations. Both power stations are fully compliant with the ISO 14001 Standard for Environmental Management Systems and all relevant national environmental and water management legislative requirements.

During operation and maintenance of the power plants, any hazardous waste generated is collected in designated waste receptacles. The service of transport and disposal of hazardous waste is outsourced to a registered and licensed waste facility.

Eskom Uganda has this year 2017 installed 72 new air conditioners with ozone friendly

SUSTANABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Nalubaale and Kiira Power Stations

refrigerant R-410A that has zero ozone depleting potential. Eskom has also installed a state of the art video conferencing system to decrease frequent travels within the country and continent at large. These initiatives aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the environment.

Eskom Uganda recognizes that clean electricity is a fundamental solution to the challenge of climate change. Eskom is committed to managing and mitigating the impact of its operations on the environment.

Eskom is subject to a wide array of laws and regulations that ensure that environmental obligations, as specified in the Ugandan Constitution, are achieved.

These obligations relate to prevention of pollution, promotion conservation and securing ecologically sustainable development.

Various independent authorities, including the Electricity Regulatory Authority, National Environment Management Authority, Directorate of Water Development, Department of Occupational Health and Safety, and the district authorities, monitor Eskom’s activities as

they impact on the environment. These authorities issue environmental permits and licenses for waste management and water use, among others.

Therefore, Eskom continues to operate as a responsible corporate citizen in Uganda by providing affordable and reliable hydropower for National Development– the goal being to be recognized as a world-class utility in terms of environmental management practices and environmental duty of care.

What you can do to help preserve the environment • •

• •

Use public transport instead of private transport to reduce on carbon dioxide emissions into the environment; Serve enough food to reduce on food wastage. Cook food as much as you can eat and avoid food wastage. If any leftovers are created, feed it to birds and animals. Don’t throw it away!

Print on both sides of the paper if it is not required otherwise; Plant a tree to remember this

• •

• •

• •

day. If you don’t have soil in your compound, request your neighbor and plant for them a tree; Switch off lights of your room or around your seat if you go out for lunch and when you break off; Find all papers that were used on one side and make it a rough notebook. Collect old newspapers and sell them to any recycling company; Sort all wastes at the source and tell a friend to do likewise; Conducting regular general housekeeping to encourage people to work and live in a clean and healthy environment; Continue with these activities even after the World Environment Day. I urge you to go outside and show the world that you’re with nature. Breathe in the beauty and remember that by keeping our planet healthy, we keep ourselves healthy.

Warm regards, Thozama Gangi Managing Director

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

25

SUSTANABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

INVESTING:

and

For sustainable impact towards 2030’ SDGs

By Enock Were

A

t a recent meeting with investors in Stockholm, GRI and UN Global Compact brought the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to the table. The discussion highlighted current bottlenecks in sustainable investment and what should be done to resolve them. The outcomes of this discussion have been formalized in the Stockholm Declaration.

According to the 2016 Global Sustainable Investment Review, the total assets directed towards sustainable and responsible investment strategies globally amounted to $22.89 trillion in 2016, growing at a remarkable rate of 25% from 2014.

The story revealed by this figure is one of the rapidly expanding influence of the investor community on the agenda for sustainable development.

To trigger a big impact on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, GRI and UN Global Compact (UNGC) called on the investor community to engage in the discussion on SDGs. During a two-day event ‘Investing for sustainable development and sustainable impact towards 2030’, held in Stockholm in May, speakers, panelists and round-table discussions contributed to expanding the conversation around investors’ expectations and vision regarding sustainable investment

SDG

reporting

by

companies.

To encourage greater investor engagement, the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) was invited to co-convene these discussions.

PRI is an investor initiative, which works to promote responsible investment among its international network of signatories.

The event, hosted by Sida, received an overwhelming response, drawing in 80 participants including senior or CEO level representatives from several Nordic and other pension funds, insurance companies and fund managers, including Alecta and Folksam, co-hosts of the event.

The discussions brimmed with expert insights, described below, which GRI and UNGC aim to concretize in their Reporting on SDGs Action Platform, to better meet the reporting

As one of the pioneer companies to implement ECO-Benefits Programme of Cleaner Production in Uganda, MAKSS PACKAGING INDUSTRIES believes in environmental sustainability, and therefore, we are proud to join National Environment Management Authority - NEMA and the rest of Ugandans to celebrate 2017 World Environment Day.

Tea Box

Controlling the flow of vast amounts of capital gives the investment community considerable power in determining the success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG #1: No Poverty.

“By choosing to invest in business models and value chains that enable stable, inclusive and sustainable markets, investors can instigate a systemic impact that decisively improves people’s livelihoods and accelerates the fight against poverty, this being in accordance with the Financing for Development Agenda and Addis Ababa Action Agenda,” highlighted Lennart Båge, acting Director of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), at the the conference.

Mineral Water Box

Cosmetic Box

Paint Box Ch i

ck

Fish Box

Bo x

Our Sales & Administration Office: Plot 41 Mukabya Close, Nakawa Ind. Area, P.O. Box: 20141, Kampala - Uganda Tel: +256-414-286544/5/8, Fax: +256-414-286547 Mob: +256-712-220093, 0712-854100, 0701-349936 E-mail: sales@maksspackaging.com

OFFERING WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS

Strapping Tools, Seals, Metal Clips, Heavy duty stapling Machine, Staples, Stitching wire, Rubber Bands, Stretch wrap, Shrink & Cling film, PP Strapping rolls, Tenax strapping rolls, plain & custom printed gum tapes in all colours.

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

Waragi / Gin Box Coin Box

Candle Box

Getting investors talking about SDGs

26

Biscuit Box

Juice Box

Soap Box Curry Powder Box

RECYCLABLE

WORLD ENVIROMENT DAY needs

of

companies

and

investors.

What investors need to make sustainable decisions One of the prime outcomes of the meeting was that corporate reporting on SDGs needs to be current, comparable, coherent, and concise. Since investors often rely on data analysis in their decision making, it is vital that companies provide information on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in a uniform manner.

This is currently a bottleneck restricting sustainable investment strategies.

An online and standardized reporting tool that helps companies to report using a set framework aligned with the SDGs, would serve as a significant stride towards overcoming this obstacle.

“We need to allocate more capital to sustainable investments; however, it also means that we need to address certain bottlenecks.

Quality disclosure of sustainability information is vital for progress in SDG investment.

Standardization and simplification is key for this aim, and an SDG reporting tool that achieves this could serve as a game-changer,” elaborated Magnus Billing, CEO of Alecta.

In addition to formulating practical project proposals for SDG reporting tools, the meeting group also drafted the Stockholm Declaration, emphasizing the commitment of the gathered investment community towards contributing to the 17 SDGs. Kris Douma, the director of Investment Practices and Reporting at PRI, said, “institutional investors play a key role in financing solutions to global challenges such as poverty, inequality, social justice, and climate change.

The Stockholm Declaration recognizes the work that investors are already doing to drive sustainable development, and takes it forward by emphasizing their commitment to improve corporate reporting on SDGs, and in turn foster sustainable investment decisions.”

The co-conveners of the meeting will follow up on the conclusions derived from the event, and will offer additional opportunities to investors to become part of the conversation on enabling sustainable investment.

According to the 2016 Global Sustainable Investment Review, the total assets directed towards sustainable and responsible investment strategies globally amounted to $22.89 trillion in 2016, growing at a remarkable rate of 25% from 2014.

To date, best practices for corporate reporting on the UN Sustainable Development Goals have yet to be established. To address this issue, GRI and the UN Global Compact have initiated a ground-breaking initiative, ‘Reporting on the SDGs’. “We believe that business action will determine the success of the ambitious 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and the achievement of the SDGs. GRI and the UN Global Compact work with many thousands of businesses, and our partnership will enable them to incorporate SDG reporting into their existing processes, empowering them to act and make the achievement of the SDGs a reality.” says GRI’s Deputy Chief Executive Teresa Fogelberg.

The Reporting on SDGs Action Platform is a groundbreaking initiative by GRI and UNGC to offer a clear and simple framework for the private sector to assess and report their SDG contributions.

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

27

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

T

housands of people across six continents joined massive clean-ups of beaches and parks, countries are protecting 1,600 square kilometres of land, and over 30 iconic landmarks lighted up in green in a powerful demonstration of humanity’s love for nature on World Environment Day. Celebrated on 5 June each year, World Environment Day is the largest global day for positive environmental action.

This year, the main celebrations are hosted by Canada under the theme of connecting people with nature.

The theme highlights the vast benefits, from food security and improved health to water supply and climatic stability that clean environments provide to humanity. With well documented physical and mental health benefits of being in nature, the day’s theme encourages people to simply get back outdoors.

“Our entire modern life, with its skyscrapers and smartphones, stands on a delicate foundation of natural systems,” said UN Environment chief Erik Solheim.

“Today, these foundations are shaking, undermined by man-made climate change, deforestation and extinctions. No amount of advanced technology will save us if we destroy and pollute our natural lifeblood.”

“Canada is proud to host World Environment Day in 2017, the150th anniversary of our country’s confederation,” said Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada. “As Canadians, we cherish our vast and beautiful natural spaces, we celebrate our connection to nature, and we are steadfast in our commitment to address climate change and promote clean growth.” World’s largest clean-up.

In Tijuana, volunteers from both sides of the US-Mexico border are teaming up to clean the city beach in a show of solidarity in the face of a common environmental threat.

In Mumbai, India, the thousands joined the world’s largest clean-up on Versova beach celebrating their herculean effort. Over the past 18 months they have removed more than 5.5 million kilograms of trash, transforming the beach from a forsaken dumpsite into a postcard destination. They continue their work by planting 500 palm trees on the beach on World Environment Day. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi cited the clean-up as inspiration for

28

MASSIVE CLEAN-UPS: Around the World as Humanity stands with Nature a massive overhaul of India’s waste management system. Starting 5 June, he said authorities will install colourcoded litter bins in 4,000 towns across India to encourage people to recycle.

Volunteers donning rubber gloves also flocked to the beaches of East Africa from Kenya, which has recently announced a plastic bag-ban, to Tanzania and Mozambique - as well as 150 cleanups across Canada, and more in Spain, the Baltic Sea, Lebanon, the Greek Islands, Egypt, Australia, the United States, Norway, and even the Arctic.

New protected areas Hossa - a mosaic of dark, primeval forests and fish-filled waters - becomes Finland’s 40th national park.

Bosnia and Herzegovina will double the size of its protected areas, with the establishment of eight new sites, totalling 150,000 hectares. It is also one of 10 countries worldwide making it easier to connect with nature by offering free entrance to national parks. Canada is granting free entrance passes for the whole of 2017.

Jordan declared over one quarter of its coastline a natural reserve to protect the unique coral reefs and seagrass inhabited by more than 127 types of hard coral and over 450 species of fish.

Chile announced over 100,000 square kilometres of new marine protected areas in the Juan Fernandez archipelago and Cape Horn, taking the total of its protected seas to over one million square kilometres.

These and other announcements of new protected areas at sea are placing the world on track to preserve a tenth of all its

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

oceans by 2020. Already, for the first time in history, the size of protected areas at sea is larger than that on land. But even that may not be enough. Better governance and enforcement of protected areas is urgently needed with some studies finding serious deficiencies in their management.

Greening up Niagara Falls, Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio, the world’s tallest building - Dubai’s Burj Khalifa - and some of its oldest - the Egyptian pyramids - are among more than 30 iconic landmarks that lit up green for World Environment Day. The Empire State Building in New York, the City Hall in Venice and Panama’s multifaceted Biomuseo also turned green.

Connecting with nature around the world Businesses, civil society organizations and ordinary citizens the world over have found thousands of creative ways to connect with nature and celebrate the environment.

More than twenty thousand schoolchildren, scientists, politicians and celebrities around the globe will attempt the world’s largest BioBlitz between 1 and 12 June, aiming to document more than a quarter of a million fascinating creatures in their backyards, parks and natural reserves through the iNaturalist app.

Encouraged by UN Environment Goodwill Ambassadors Gisele Bündchen and Don Cheadle, social media users will be posting photos of their favourite natural places, in a bid to create the World’s Biggest Nature Photo Album.

Research Bureau of the People’s Bank of China and chairman of the China Green Finance Committee.

The staff and the management of FOL Group joins the international community and the rest of Ugandans to celebrate 2017 World Environment Day, whose theme is ‘Connecting People to Nature’ .

The theme reminds us to mind about our relationship with nature and care for our environment. FOL Group is the miller and producer of KINGDOM RICE Brand in Uganda.

FOL GROUP LTD, Plot 896, Block 113, KIBP, Namanve Industrial Area, P.O. Box 5855, Kampala , Uganda Tel: +256 794 555 444/+256 792 333 904 Email: info@filgroup.net, www: folgroup.net EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

29

CLIMATE & CARBON

Uganda’s State Of MDGs

UN OCEAN CONFERENCE: wraps up with actions to protect marine life

T

he first-ever United Nations summit on oceans today wrapped up with a global agreement to reverse the decline of the ocean’s health, and more than 1,300 pledged actions for protecting the blue.

“The bar has been raised on global consciousness and awareness of the problem in the oceans,” the President of the UN General Assembly, Peter Thomson, told journalists in New York.

Mr. Thomson, whose native Fiji cosponsored the event along with Sweden, said the organizers got what they wanted from the conference: “I’m 100 per cent satisfied with the results of this conference. Our aim was high. Our aim was to start the reversal of the cycle.”

The Ocean Conference ended with the adoption by consensus of a 14-point Call for Action where the participating Heads of State and Government and senior representatives “affirmed our strong commitment to conserve and sustainably use our oceans, seas and marine resources tor sustainable development.”

Speaking alongside Mr. Thomson, the Secretary-General of The Ocean Conference, Wu Hongbo, said the negotiated document lists specific measures “to galvanize global commitment and partnerships” for the oceans.

The main points from the political document of the discussions will be part of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable

30

Development (HLPF), the UN’s central body for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in September 2015. The HLPF is scheduled for a meeting in July in New York.

In addition to the political Call for Action, participants – who also included thousands of civil society representatives, academics, artists, financial institutions and other practitioners and activists – pledged actions to conserve and sustainable use the oceans, seas and marine resources. This is the goal of SDG14.

More than 1,300 voluntary commitments had already been registered.

Calling the figure “truly impressive,” Mr. Wu, who is also UN Under-SecretaryGeneral for Economic and Social Affairs, underscored that the commitments now comprise “an ocean solution registry.” ‘It’s all of us or nothing’ The week-long conference, where some 6,000 people participated, was the first time that the UN brought everyone together to discuss the challenges facing the world’s oceans.

“When it comes to the ocean, it’s the common heritage of humankind. There’s no North-South, East-West when it comes to the ocean,” Mr. Thomson said. “If the ocean is dying, it’s dying on all of us.”

The senior official underscored that by

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

“getting the wheels turning” on SDG 14, the conference helped push forward action on all 17 SDGs. finance ocean science, but much more is required to fill the capacity gaps,” he explained.

Topics that were discussed ranged from plastic pollution in the oceans and seas to ocean acidification and illegal fishing – which tie in with topics of alleviating poverty, ending hunger, promoting health, ensuring access to water and sanitation, and so on.

Mr. Thomson attributed the success of the conference to the “wonderful way” in which all the different participants came together to discuss and work together.

He lauded the “openness to civil society, to the science sector, to private society” in breaking down the typical divisions between governments and other sectors. “There’s no them and us. It’s all of us or nothing.”

In addition to eight plenary meetings and seven partnership dialogues, The Ocean Conference included 150 side events, 41 exhibitions and interviews at the SDG Media Zone.

The mix of personalities and strong support for action brought “creativity and a sense of unity” to the action for oceans, said conference co-chairwoman, Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden Isabelle Lovin.

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

31

Kawempe Shop: 0774379390, 0701879390, Namaliri Shop: 0782067858, Eastern: 0772561429, 0704223308, 07002253321 Western: 0775356028, 0704223309, Northern: 0700223314, 0753864366, Central: 0700955352, 0785350326

Bawito F1 (SEMI-DETERMINATE)

Mob: 0704 223305, 0706 488160, 0783 669109, 0779 228245, 0700 399409, 0704 263700, 0789 721601

EASEED & AGRISCOPE NEW BRANCHES, NAKIVUBO ROAD PLOT NO. 5/7/8 “FARMERS’ MALL”’,

Business & Environment Plastic Waste Management

TORORO CEMENT LIMITED: PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Tororo Cement; Environmental, Community Press Release By Tororo Cement

F

ar-sighted organizational leaders recognize that lasting success must be built on credible business practices and the prevention of such actions as labour exploitation. In contrast, today’s competitive business organizations are finding it necessary to operate in a socially responsible manner to meet the needs of customers, consumers, governments, associations and the general public. This is to signify that, sustainable business and/ or lasting success for organizations means not only providing products and services that satisfy the customer, and doing so without jeopardizing labour practices and the environment, but also operating in a socially responsible manner.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development have now emerged as strategic elements of overall firm management extending the role of environmental responsibility well beyond the traditional scope of the Environmental Manager alone. In recent times, corporate environmental responsibility has evolved and expanded to cover substantially more than pollution prevention, waste minimization and legal compliance. Consequently, environmental management, once considered a sunken-cost, driven by legal compliance and liability, is now integrated as a survival as well as a competitive strategy. As a

32

result, business enterprises of all sizes and types are now increasingly able to achieve a wide range of benefits from their efforts to design or re-design their products, services and operations while taking environmental concernsand Social Responsibility into consideration.

Tororo Cement Limited (TCL),the largest Cement Manufacturing Company in Uganda with a Cement Production Capacity of 1,800,000 metric tons per year (MTY) is cognizant that innovation is required to meet society’s demands, and that efficiency, market share, risk management, brand value and other core business functions are as critical to good environmental performance as they are to sustainable competition.

Subsequently, we have refined our approach to various elements of our environmental programmes including setting in-house goals that focus on environment, organizational governance, community involvement and development, labour practices and human rights, managing supplier/consumer relationsand reporting our commitments and environmental performance in relation tocorporate social responsibility.

Our Company has been able to move from good intentions to good actions through the following agenda:-.

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

BIOGAS PROGRANMME In partnership with Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) and the Germany Agency for International Co-operation (GIZ) and Heifer Project International, Tororo Cement Limited designed and launched an energy efficiency programme focusing on biogas production.

The programme was designed for the local communities in Tororo District, Eastern Ugandawhere the factory is situated.

Forty four (44) biogas plants worthy UGX 70,000,000 have been set up in four subcounties of Tororo.

This social investment has enabledthe local communitiesto access modern cooking facilities in their homesteads.

In addition, it has provided lighting for common purpose in homes and generation of bio-slurry, an excellent organic fertilizer.

Lighting through biogas energy has reduced household expenditure on hydro electricity power (HEP) and Kerosene, resulting in increased household incomes. This has further enabled the beneficiaries to afford better healthcare, better education for their children and providing light for reading thereby increasing the literacy levels in these local communities.

Plastic Waste Management

Health, and Education Social Development Projects Biogas-slurry, a rich organic fertilizer, has promoted modern organic farming resulting in improvedcropand animal yields. This has led to improved food security in the area.

Importantly, this programme has reduced the communities’ over dependence on wood fuel resulting in improved forest cover, rainfall patterns, reduced atmospheric air pollution and eventual protection of the ozone layer.

TREE AND BANANA PLANTATION PROGRAMME Tororo Cement has designed a tree planting programme in Tororo, Kapchorwa and Moroto where it obtains its raw materials.

About 26,562 trees seedlings have been planted in the three Districts. Specifically, Tororo has taken a share of 16,562 while the 10,000 has been shared between Kapchorwa and Moroto. On the other hand, over 120 acres of Matooke have been established around the factory premises.This programme has promoted increased food security for local communities and environmental conservation in these areas.

TRANSPORT AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME Transport is a key factor in socio-economic development.Conscious of this, TCL has extended support to the community in the

North by constructing 3 bridges in Moroto District facilitating an easy inter-connection between the East and North of the Country.

This programme has boosted the region’s economic activities including better transport, agriculture and education services due to easy accessibility.

The company also assists in maintaining the roads in Amudat by fueling and providing a wheel loader to the district when carrying out road repairs in addition to contributing fuel for the Ministry of Works and Transport grader during road works. In terms of labour practices, we have since 2009 given the onus of excavating marble to the local community while giving minimum oversight. This has provided employment opportunities and increased household income to the local community.

EDUCATION PROGRAMME

AND

HEALTH

Education is the single most powerful tool that can be used to change the world while Health is Wealth. For us to be able to realize any change we need people who understand the circumstances that surround our environment and, to be able to create more wealth, we need healthy people. Tororo Cement is keen on this. We have supported the education sector in our areas of operation by constructing primary and secondary schools. Specifically,

a two-classroom block was constructed at Kawowo Secondary School in Kapchorwa, and a four-classroom block put up in Moroto.

In addition, three students from Moroto have been supported from primary six upto University level through the office of the Prime Minister. Two have already completed and one is soon completing. In terms of health, we have constructed a community Health Centre III in Opedede Village in Osukuru Sub-County, Tororo District which now serves over 5,000 people around the local community.

The company has also distributed mosquito nets to the local communities in Amudat, Kapchorwa and Tororo including providing a Mobile Clinic Van in Moroto and Mattresses to Tororo Government Hospital. This has boosted education and health service provision in these areas.

Our approach and effort to operate in a socially responsible manner that society increasingly demands, has yielded us immense benefits.

There is now a high sense of identity and belonging between the community and the company, importantly, we enjoy increased market share in the East African region and beyond.Tororo Cement Limited will continue to make a positive contribution to the world we live in ■

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

33

34

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017

Marking WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY with a difference ... ...Our future depends on RECYCLING The use of plastics in industrial and consumer applications has grown significantly, increasing the amount of solid waste in our environment but also presenting an opportunity for adding new life to waste, hence the need for consumer awareness about solid waste recycling. This has led to an increased demand for recycled plastic resins and products. One of the fastest growing types of plastic materials for recycling is polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”) beverage and water bottles, and PE Film material from post-consumer waste.

Quality Plastics Uganda Ltd took deliberate steps to clean our environment through recycling plastic waste to produce various environment-friendly products from plastic waste. The company has a facility for cleaning, sorting and recycling PE films and plans to establish a PET bottles recycling facility in future. The company recycles an average of 1200 tons of PE film every year.

Quality Plastics Uganda Ltd is proud to be associated with National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and all stakeholders on the occasion of 2017 WORD ENVIRONMENT DAY.

Quality Plastics (U) Limited provides quality and environmentally friendly packaging solutions using appropriate technology and competent staff for the well- being of all stakeholders.

THREE LAYER MILK FILM HEAT SHRINK FILMS

BRANDED PACKAGING

PLANT BAGS

DPC SHEETS

CAUTION TAPES

QUALITY PLASTICS UGANDA LTD Plot # 283, Kyaggwe, Block 198 Nangwa-Mukono, P.O Box 24573,Kampala, Uganda Phone +256 787 357 251/+256 393 348 946 EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017 35 Email: gm@qualityuganda.com, www: http://qualityuganda.com

36

EnviroConserve AFRICA June/August 2017