The recently concluded 2024 edition of the Botswana Sustainability Week, hosted by Green Loop ESG Consultants in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation, and Tourism, brought together a diverse group of leaders from government, business, academia, media, and civil society.
The three-day event, themed “Investing in ESG & Sustainability – Aligning Profitability with Positive Environmental and Social Impact,” explored the meaning and importance of sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles through the lens of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Aimed at diving and unpacking the ESG value proposition to align profitability with positive environmental and social impact, the event now in its second edition featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops that underscored the significance of sustainable practices in driving economic growth.
Giving a keynote address at the event, the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism, Dumezwini Mthimkhulu indicated that while Botswana has made notable progress in addressing environmental concerns some challenges still need to be addressed such as water scarcity, land degradation, loss of biodiversity, climate change, waste management, invasive species as well as environmental awareness and education.
It is in this regard that he called for collaboration between the government, private sector, civil societies and communities to ensure sustainable development and conservation of the country’s natural resources.
According to him, this edition’s theme resonates well with the mandate of his Ministry of developing and implementing policies and programs related to environmental protection, conservation and sustainable practices.
“Of critical importance is that the theme calls for not only for maximization of returns for shareholders but to also consider the impact of business operations on the environment, society and government practices,” he added.
Moreover, Mthimkhulu emphasized the critical role of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) in fostering long-term value and resilience pointing out that businesses, which integrate sustainability principles into their strategies and decision-making processes have the potential to create long-term value, manage risk, enhance their reputations and attract clients who prioritize sustainability and ethical practices.
He particularly noted the tourism sector’s dependence on Botswana’s pristine ecosystems and diverse wildlife highlighting the sector as a cornerstone of the country’s economy.
“It is therefore important that we protect the environment and the fragile ecosystems like the Okavango Delta to enable us to diversify our economy and create opportunities for all Batswana,” he said.
Lindiwe Modise, Managing Director of Green Loop ESG Consultants, when opening the event reflected on the previous year’s inaugural Sustainability Week and noted the progress made despite initial resistance from stakeholders and a lack of partnerships.
“Last year, we started this long-term journey with just a few delegates. Today, the significant turnout we see for the next three days shows that the Green Loop message is reaching the right stakeholders for further engagement,” she said.
Modise called for businesses and individuals to not only talk about sustainability and promote it on marketing platforms but also invest in and establish the right structures to measure its positive impact.
Green Loop ESG Consultants, established in September 2019, in Gaborone, Botswana, is a green growth-oriented entity with knowledge of green technologies to help organizations meet their environmental social governance (ESG) and sustainability goals.
