Alex Rose-Innes
With current economic constraints and various socio-economic challenges across Africa, never before has it been more important for innovation to address climate change and improve the future outlook of the planet.
It is difficult to address greening issues while many live in abject poverty, but if the environment is not sustained, joblessness and food scarcity would increase. The ability to manage waste would ensure a sustainable future for the growing population in South Africa (SA) and across Africa, in general.
In SA, the environmental sector had already seen many improvements as a result of the vision of eco-entrepreneurs and innovators, but air and water pollution, land degradation and waste management issues are at tipping point, calling for urgent and alternative treatment options. Innovative solutions would enable the country to meet global climate change targets.
Local populations still find the cheap option of landfills and illegal dumping preferable, but in the long run the initial investment in creating environmentally-friendly alternatives would be of much greater benefit. Compared to some countries across Africa and the global standard, SA is lacking far behind and despite aligning itself to the United Nation’s COP-driven goals, the country has far to go and time is of the essence.
Despite seeing more women entering to the eco-innovative market, there is a definite need for more female input across areas of science, engineering and ecology, as consultants and recyclers and even more important, as policymakers. Waste disposal had become a highly scientific issue, changing from being merely operational to high-tech and many opportunities are opening up for women.
SA is in the fortunate position to have a visionary woman at the helm of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries. Barbara Creecy is managing to change the image of the country as a dumping ground for global waste and had already achieved much through enhanced legislation.
Across the continent, a large percentage of women is driving environmentally- sustainable business and through innovative thinking proving that not only August, but every month of every year, their contribution to a better future, should be acknowledged and employment opportunities created.
In the waste sector where recycling had become the buzz word of the Millennium, fuel had already successfully been sourced from waste to reduce the carbon footprint. Interwaste, a local company, recycles 300 tonnes of waste every month, thereby providing an innovative and alternative solution to fossil fuels. Not only is it more economical as petrol prices in SA continue to soar, but had proved to be ideal in replacing coal, used for energy supply across the country, a major health hazard and responsible for most of the damaging national carbon footprint. This recycling company also provides eco-friendly cement alternatives to the international industry – all derived from recycled waste from landfills.
Innovation often follows new legislation and as corporate business is starting to insist on eco-friendly production methods and the public calls for re-purposed products, necessity would become an innovation driver. The ancient Greek philosopher, Plato’s, adage of necessity being the mother of all invention is proving to be too true in the 21-st century. The onus now rests on governments to ensure necessary legislation driving new innovation and greener better business practices.
