Young people are willing to get involved in combating climate change, but do not know where to direct their efforts. This was according to Matthew Wingfield, organiser of Stellenbosch University’s (SU) recent Earth Week Dialogue Series.
Thus, opening up spaces like the dialogue series is important, he said.
“We’re trying to get a conversation happening at [SU] around climate change and climate justice that is very practical,” said Wingfield at the event on 19 April.
The dialogue series took on the form of a forum to bring professors, activists, and important stakeholders together to discuss climate change, EcoMaties chairperson Micha Ruwiel, told MatieMedia at the event.
From left to right: Event organiser Matthew Wingfield, Stellenbosch University (SU) chief operating officer Prof Stan Du Plessis, SU sustainability manager John de Wet, Stellenbosch mayoral committee member Lwando Nkamisa, vice-chair and coordinator at Fossil Free South Africa David Le Page, student governance representative Anele Mdepa, and event organiser Muhammed Lokhat at the Earth Week Dialogue series. PHOTO: Nakishka Skriker
The event intended to break down “divides happening at the university”, as conversations around climate change often exclude students, or are too academic and not practical, said Wingfield.
Addressing climate crisis
SU has committed an investment of R180 million into clean energy within the next two years, said Prof Stan Du Plessis, SU’s chief operating officer, at the event. This forms part of a number of measures taken to make SU more environmentally conscious.
SU has also taken measures to be more water efficient, said John de Wet, the environmental sustainability manager at SU. The Bellville Park campus is completely off the Cape Town municipality’s water grid, he said.
Students can expect to see water bottle filling stations in university buildings in the next two to three months, which will be installed with the aim of reducing the demand for single-use plastic water bottles, stated De Wet.
Investment strategies were a main topic of conversation at the Earth Week Dialogue Series discussions on 20 April. Stellenbosch University (SU) directly invests in green companies and renewable energy, according to Stan Du Plessis, SU’s chief operating officer. PHOTO: Nakishka Skriker
Investment and divestment
Divestment in environmentally harmful companies was a main topic of discussion amongst the panellists on the second evening of the dialogue series.
Divestment is primarily a social and ethical move in South Africa, said David Le Page from Fossil Free South Africa, at the event. He explained that it serves as a signal to the rest of society that we no longer consider it ethical to invest in exploitative fossil fuel companies.
SU does not solely consider financial risk in its investment decisions, but also environmental and social risk factors, explained Du Plessis. SU currently prioritises direct investment in green companies and energy over divestment in fossil fuel companies, though “it is not a closed conversation”, he said.
The Earth Week Dialogue series is one of many events organised by EcoMaties and other groups at Stellenbosch University for Earth Week 2022.
The dialogue series, hosted at the CoCreate Hub in Stellenbosch on 19 and 20 April, was one of a number of events and activities held on the SU Campus during Earth Week 2022, said Ruwiel.
The dialogue series was hosted by EcoMaties, the United Nations Association of South Africa, the SU Student Representative Council and the facilities management division at SU.
The Earth Week Dialogue Series was hosted by EcoMaties, the United Nations Association of South Africa, the Stellenbosch University Student Representative Council, and the facilities management division at Stellenbosch University, on 19 and 20 April at the CoCreate Hub in Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Nakishka Skriker