Home
Forgot your password?
Climate change research initiative launched
|
JSE-listed diversified-miner Exxaro Resources has launched the Exxaro Chair in Business and Climate Change (ECBCC) initiative, which aims to mitigate the effects of climate change. Exxaro was providing R3-million in funding over a three-year period. CEO Sipho Nkosi said the company believed that climate change was one of the most pressing challenges facing humankind.
"We are already seeing changes [in the climate], particularly with the recent excessive rainfalls. It is important to take a look at this matter," said Nkosi, adding that the rain especially impacted on open-pit mines. He added that the ECBCC initiative would assist Exxaro, and the coal industry in general, to "move a step forward" to have coal as one of the most acceptable industries in terms of clean energy and its impact on climate change. The ECBCC initiative would research climate change developments in the South African context, and would form part of the University of South Africa's (Unisa's) College of Economic and Management Sciences' Centre for Corporate Citizenship (CCC).
The outcomes of the research would be released to the business sector, to allow companies to implement the recommendations in their climate change responsibility programmes. Exxaro would also consider implementing these recommendations.
Climate Change Code for SA corporates
ECBCC programme manager Dr Hennie Stoffberg said that while it would undertake a number of research areas, it would focus on three main projects - the carbon assessment of the top 50 JSE-listed companies, the carbon footprint of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, and the development of a Corporate Climate Change Code, which it called the 4C code. It would conduct a carbon assessment of the top 50 JSE-listed companies' ability to manage and reduce their carbon footprint and their ability to recognise and make use of climate-driven business opportunities. The companies would be ranked according to their carbon performances.
Further, Stoffberg would, together with Unisa CCC director, Professor Derick de Jongh aim to initiate the 4C code, which would obligate signatories to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as to take responsibility over and above any legal requirements.
"Through this we don't want to achieve simply compliance in terms of regulations," commented Stoffberg, adding that the code was meant to transcend globalisation regulations such as the Kyoto protocol, which did not require developing countries to have legally binding emission reduction targets.
The development of the code, which would be conducted in conjunction with Ethics South Africa, was in an initial phase.
Apart from the funding, Exxaro would also provide logistical support in the form of manpower and facilities to the ECBCC.
Source: Engineering News
