Gqeberha, South Africa – The Coega Development Corporation (Coega) is pleased to have collaborated with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), and partners such as Coca-Cola, Polyco, and Petco for the Youth in Waste Summit 2023, which took place in Gqeberha recently. The partnership marked a significant milestone in addressing pressing environmental challenges, such as littering, water and air pollution, and climate change facing our country, and in empowering young individuals to emerge as leaders in waste management and green initiatives.
Under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms. Barbara Creecy, a Cleaning and Greening Initiative was launched in Motherwell to kick-off the Programme. Following the Cleaning and Greening Initiative, the Summit commenced at The Athenaeum.
The events provided an inclusive platform for participants to foster partnerships and exchange ideas, develop innovative strategies to combat waste-related challenges, and encourage the active involvement of youth in shaping the future of waste management and environmental sustainability in South Africa.
The Honourable Barbara Creecy explained that the country had lost close to two million jobs following the Covid-19 pandemic, and that as a result, the government developed the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, which cites the green industries sector as an opportunity to advance mass employment while promoting a circular economy across industries.
The Minister shared: “One of the sectors that has been identified for growth is the green industries sector, with a particular focus on the waste economy and the recycling industry.”
Speaking about the Cleaning and Greening Initiative in Motherwell, the Nelson Mandela Bay Deputy Executive Mayor, Cllr. Babalwa Lobishe said: “This greening project is a project by the Minister which had many facets; first was the employment of 2 000 people in the collection of waste and the second was focused on small businesses in the space of waste management. We have observed that if we manage waste well, many jobs can be created. The main message is, let us not throw away gold. If waste collection contributes 30% to our GDP, this means that a lot can be done in terms of job creation as well as making sure that our region is clean.”
The Cleaning and Greening Initiative took place in Motherwell, Gqeberha.
Coega stands firmly committed to supporting the Youth in Waste Summit and working hand in hand with the DFFE to advance a long-term agenda of sustainable production and consumption and promote the socio-economic gains of sustainable industrial development. By joining forces, the organisations aim to drive positive change in our communities and inspire a collective sense of responsibility towards the environment. Coega’s belief is rooted in the notion that by empowering the youth and investing in sustainable initiatives, we can forge a cleaner and greener future for all South Africans.
The Chief Sustainability Officer for the Coega Development Corporation, Ms. Telly Chauke said: “For Coega, this year has really been about accelerating action for the sustainable development goals, specifically goal 17, orientated towards partnerships. For us, the biggest win from this Summit is solidifying partnerships. Secondly, it is being able to find where the resources are. There are a lot of potential partners here like Coca-Cola, the department itself, the Metro, as well as social partners. We should be able to collaborate to unlock resources to implement waste minimisation initiatives, as well as bulking up the infrastructure and supporting initiatives around waste management.”
Through this collaboration, Ms. Chauke said that Coega aims to create a platform that equips young people with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to drive effective waste management strategies.
“By fostering awareness, education, and innovation, we can empower the youth to take ownership of sustainable waste management practices and become catalysts for change within their respective communities. Coega recognises the urgent need to address waste management challenges that threaten the wellbeing of our communities and the ecosystem at large. By partnering with the DFFE, we are strategically positioned to leverage our expertise, resources, and networks to support the objectives of the Youth in Waste Summit,” concluded Ms. Chauke.
