After going virtual in 2020 due to Covid lockdown restrictions, Green Building Council South Africa’s (GBCSA) flagship annual Green Building Convention is back in the heart of Cape Town with the event taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 2–4 November 2021.
“We are thrilled to be back in Cape Town and to play our part in both stimulating the local economy and leading discussions on promoting sustainable changes in the built environment.”
GBCSA CEO, Lisa Reynolds
The Convention, a highlight on the sustainability calendar, is the gathering place for the green built environment’s professionals, thought leaders and decision-makers. The theme for this year’s Convention, ‘One – One Planet. One Chance’, is inspired by the wake-up call that we need radical action to mitigate the effects of climate change.
“One of the key lessons we’ve taken from the pandemic is our very real and negative impact on the environment. As economies around the world came to a standstill, the environment thrived. With the built environment contributing 39% to global carbon emissions, we have a significant responsibility to drive a sustainable transition to spaces where both people and the planet can thrive.”
“Ultimately, it’s about creating a global built environment that acts as ONE powerful force of nature, effecting meaningful change that counts,” Reynolds added.
The Convention is once again hosting a heavyweight line-up of keynote speakers representing a range of built environment disciplines. From innovative award-winning international architects, resiliency experts and urban sustainability thought leaders to circularity specialists and climate activists – the programme comprehensively covers the most critical aspects of driving a sustainable future.
The sustainability agenda is further bolstered by expertly curated breakaway sessions, workshops and the Green Innovation Stage that deep dive into a wide range of topics, trends and pioneering green initiatives and solutions.
“Partnerships are vital in enhancing sustainable development and we are proud to collaborate with organisations that are actively driving positive environmental change in South Africa.
A big thank you to our lead sponsors Nedbank, Rand Water and Vodacom Business; our gold sponsors Balwin Properties and Pareto Limited; silver sponsors Investec Property Fund, Liberty Two Degrees, JLL Tétris, Standard Bank and Old Mutual; and our Bronze sponsors Growthpoint Properties, Belgotex, Formfunc, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) for partnering with GBCSA.”
“In 1990, at a time when few companies were talking ‘green’, Nedbank recognised the centrality of the natural environment; that it underpins everything we are – the lives we live, the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, our economies, and our livelihoods. This led to their pioneering partnership with WWF-SA to create the WWF Nedbank Green Trust and put in place Africa’s most sustainable, dynamic mechanism for supporting environmental issues at a time when there was no such understanding in the business world. Thirty years later, the WWF Nedbank Green Trust celebrates three decades of funding catalytic projects that have brought real change to the lives of South Africans and to the natural environment on which we all depend,” says Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Nedbank Group Sponsorships & Cause Marketing.
“Rand Water is proud to be associated with the Green Building Convention, we are cognisant that there are pressures on our planet’s limited natural resources; we have a long-standing commitment for a sustainable environment and are conscious that the challenge of climate change necessitates that an urgent action is taken by us all,” says Rand Water’s spokesperson, Justice Mohale.
“As Vodacom, connecting for a better future is the purpose that drives us, so we’re looking forward to not only supporting but also participating in this year’s Convention. As a technology company, we’re committed to leveraging technology to address societal challenges. We believe that taking advantage of the Internet of Things (IoT) will further enable businesses to make use of relevant, real-world, tech-savvy solutions that can positively transform society in the most sustainable ways possible,” says Shobana Singh, Managing Executive for National Facilities at Vodacom.
In a bid to accelerate the transition to a green economy and in recognition of the important role of SMMEs and NGOs in achieving this vision, GBCSA and Pareto Limited are introducing the Climate Action Village at Convention this year. 15 SMMEs and NGOs will be showcasing their innovative green products, initiatives and services while attending Convention and engaging with an influential network of built environment professionals and decision-makers.
GBCSA will also be announcing its latest statistics on Green Star certifications at the Convention, as well as the winners of the annual GBCSA Green Star Awards that recognise leading green building projects and professionals. This year, in partnership with the Youth In Property Association (YIPA), the winner of the inaugural YIPA Sustainable Young Changemaker Award will also be announced.
The organisers of the Green Building Convention, idna say that the positive response to this year’s Convention has been overwhelming and showed that people are eager to meet in person again.
“It is exciting to see the recovery of our industry in action and especially, through bringing people together again, creating a platform that drives critical dialogue around building a sustainable future. Having worked with GBCSA for several years now, the Green Building Convention is truly a highlight and we can’t wait to reconnect with everyone in Cape Town,” says idna CEO, Tamlynne Wilton-Gurney.
For more information about the Green Building Convention, visit www.gbcsaconvention.org.za.
