Municipalities get training on enviro management

Theresia Tjihenuna

GOING GREEN ... Delegates from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Hous- ing and Rural Development with staff of the Polytechnic of Namibia.

Photograph by Jordaania Andima

Addressing 30 delegates drawn from the ministries of Environment and Tourism (MET) and Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development attending a two-week training programme on environment sustainability in Windhoek, Tjivikua said as advances are made in industrial development, governments and global bodies are faced with the immense challenges in policy formulations.

Tjivikua said concepts like cleaner production, extended producer responsibility, ecological footprint and carbon footprint need to cascade down to the basic production unit.

He said issues of water conservation, global warming and elimination of shanty towns are challenges outlined in the Millennium Development Goals.

“We need to be aware of the challenges that face us today and tomorrow - the threats to our livelihoods as a thriving human race, opportunities for reforms, weaknesses within our legislative instruments and of course, the successes registered this far in this regard,” he said.

Tjivikua also said that mining, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and every other industry find themselves in a position where they need to co-exist and find harmony with the environment in which they thrive.

“This makes the subject of environmental management multi- or trans-sectoral. As the world proceeds on the continuum of being a global place, and indeed faced with shrinking resources and rising demands, it becomes increasingly paramount to develop concepts that ensure sustainability,” the rector said.

He said although sustainability is a global concept, it needs to be applied locally for it to have a meaning to all citizens of the world.

According to the MET which organised the training programme, there is a need to educate local government officials on environmental sustainability as the world is experiencing more negative side effects of development through pollution and damage to the environment. The training will be conducted by lecturers in the mining and metallurgical field and other experts in the field.

Topics to be covered include the impact mining has on the environment, water and sanitation, solid-waste management, environmental challenges facing the Namibian mining industry as well as air pollution and noise control.

The ministry further states that local governments do not have specialist environmental officers and are therefore not properly informed on environmental management and sustainability issues.

The training is aimed at minimising the potential adverse impacts on the environment, which in turn will improve socio-economic outcomes, demonstrate good corporate governance and accountability, improve liability management and quality control as well as reduce operational costs and increased profitability.

The training is a joint effort of the Environmental Commissioner and the Polytechnic.