THE INAUGURAL SPEECH BY HON. NETUMBO NANDI-NDAITWAH, MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF – GAWA

6TH NOVEMEBER 2008
WINDHOEK

Director of ceremonies,
Mr. Stephan Mc Guire, the guest of honour.
Chairperson of GAWA Board, Mr. Gareth Amos,
Other board members
Business Dignitaries,
Invited guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen

At the onset, let me express my gratitude for the opportunity accorded to me to witness and officiate at the launch of Green Awareness Africa (GAWA). In the same vain, I would like to welcome Mr. McGuire and his delegation to Namibia. I understand it is your first visit to Namibia and Africa. You are welcome to the Land of the Brave, a land of contrasting features. Beautiful Namibia must be your home away from your birth place. At this point, let me congratulate, the people of the United State of America for having successful gone through their democratic election that took place on the 4th November 2008. May I also congratulate Democrat Party and of course President-elect Barack Obama and his family in their victory. I believe the change promised by President-elect Obama throughout the campaign will be realized in the best interest of the people of America and of course the world at large including Namibia.

Director of ceremonies,
We live in a world where the effects of global warming and its reversal, and the conservation and protection of our planet in general are no longer the province of science fiction. No longer can anyone question the scientific data and prima facie evidence that planet earth – our home – is under serious threat. I always feel threatened when I see the size of snow on the summit of Mountain Kilimanjaro in 1976 and in 2006, the difference is so big thus telling us that global warming is real. In Namibia this year we have experience a big storm that caused sea water to cut off Henties Bay from Swakopmund, all this is a clear evidence of climate change. Caring individuals, such as Mr. McGuire and Mr. Amos, among others have gone to great lengths to bring the environmental plight to the attention of the public at large, presented in such a way that the facts are impossible to refute, and even the most cynical of critics cannot ignore. I thank them for producing a reality telling film “ The 11th HOUR”. .

Namibia is a greenhouse net sink country. Nevertheless, we must plan our development programmes especially those industrial activities in a manner that we are able to use environmental friendly mechanism in particular in the area of power and energy generation. We are aware of Billions being spent annually on reversing the damage done by human activities – by global warming, by pollution, and by the destruction of our natural heritage. Therefore to avoid double work, billions must be spend to develop clean energy generation, hence the importance of technological transfer as called for within the Kiyoto protocol.

The 2006 UN Report on Environmental Sustainability Index, Namibia was the first top 5 country. Moreover, the 2008 report on environmental performance index (EPI) ranks 149 countries on 25 indicators tracked across six established policy categories: Environmental Health; Air Pollution; Water Resources; Biodiversity and Habitat; Productive Natural Resources; and Climate Change.
The EPI identifies broadly accepted targets for environmental performance and measures how close each country comes to these goals. As a quantitative gauge of pollution control and natural resource management results, the Index provides a powerful tool for improving policymaking and shifting environmental decision-making onto firmer analytical foundations. The index is designed to supplement targets set forth in the UN Millennium Development goals.
According to the EPI, Namibia is ranked 88th in the world, and fourth in Africa. This may sound modest to our audience here tonight. However, the fact of the matter is that the differences between the ratings of countries in the sub 100 are minute; variance only becomes glaringly significant in countries ranked lower than 100.

This positive rating of Namibia’s performance is largely due to the effective policies and legislation that has been put in place by the Government of Namibia. You are all aware of the cabinet decision that all government buildings to be build, water heating must be by means of solar energy. You are also familiar with the government solar programme, that currently many households and some public institutions especially in rural areas an adopting to solar for lighting and even water pumping. Namibia has made clean energy a priority, hence the top EPI score on the African continent .

Environmental issues are no longer only the concern of militant green movements and the stereotypical environmental activist. The environment, and specifically global warming, has become a political issue that has settled itself – and rightly so – at the top of political agendas everywhere. Environmental issues have both economic and social impact. Therefore, hence it is a must that individual member of our communities should got involved in the care and protection of our fragile planet. As we know the problem of global warming and its consequences is affecting each and every being walking on this earth, and each individual – who ignores this issue, who moves it ever lower on their to-do list, is not just ignoring a spot of trouble that may affect the big picture, but contributing to the damage.

As I travel in Namibia, I get worried about too many plastics , tins and bottles laying around. I wander if we know the damage they are making to our environment and other resources such as ground water.

I am happy that, in line with the Environmental Management Act, that, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism together with other stakeholders has started implementing the act in particular the awareness part. On the 31st July 2008 I launched the Coast Line Environmental Campaign Programme and I am glad that so far the programme is going on well.

Director of ceremonies,
I believe that, if countries such as Switzerland, Sweden and Norway have become beacons of cleanliness of right living, of conscious awareness of foresight and most importantly of consent for future generations, Namibia will also succeed in its programmes. For us in Namibia is not only the law that require us to protect our environment but its is a constitutional obligation that called upon the government to put in place policies and programmes to ensure sustainable use of the ecosystem for the current and future generations.
I welcome and commend GAWA, who has heeded to the call for the people’s full participation in ensuring a clean environmental. GAWA I am informed is a group of individuals and organisations who have taken a stand alongside like-minded individuals and organisations worldwide, people who have gone that bit further, who have set their sights on, and have acted upon, making their countries as clean and green as it can possibly be – in habitats and homes, in offices and towns, in cities and villages.

This desire to bring environmental change for the better, benefiting all living beings for generations to come, should be implemented with vigour, drive, fervour and passion by all of us, to make contribution to the better management of mother earth. I acknowledge to the tourism industry especially lodges that have done away with the use of plastic bags. I hope through this programm the business and general public will be sensitized to bring an end to the use of plastic as they are a danger to our environment. Our Ministry of Environment and Tourism has already started engaging stakeholders in plastic packaging industry to get better organized, thus to be ready to comply in the implementation of our Environmental Management Act.

I thank the founders of GAWA for their initiative – not only in creating awareness of the environmental cause, and mobilising the Namibian workforce – but also for the long-term effects that this charity will have in creating a new sector of Namibian employees. These green-collar workers will be a testament to Namibia’s commitment to preserving our natural beauty and heritage, and will be an army for all to see. No longer do we need an army of war fighters, but an army which has an even more elemental fight on their hands: the preservation of our plant in the most basic and fundamental way – the fresh air we breathe; the blueness of our sky; the majesty and fragility of dunes.

Finally I must say; I will have to leave the task of enlightening you on the philosophy behind GAWA to its founder, Mr. Gareth Amos. However from what I was informed the programme has a potential to positive contribute to the current efforts of government and other stakeholders in the area of environmental issues in Namibia. As Minister of Environment and Tourism I want to see all those involved on environmental issues to work in partnership as that is the only way we can reach our objectives.

It is now my honour to declare GAWA officially launched. May GAWA’s journey be as spectacular as the awakening of the Auas Mountains when the first summer rains fall.

I thank you!