Inaugural Africa’s Energy and Environment Workshop

Inaugural Africa’s Public Officials Energy and Environment Workshop – 2011

Venue: George Hotel, Centurion
Date: 24/25 November 2011

Today, a number of sources of power have been discovered but for the most part, energy and power related literature is couched in technical jargons. This workshop is deemed necessary following the realisation of the compelling need to make energy and environment concepts accessible to non-technical policy makers who require sufficient knowledge of energy and the environment to formulate relevant policy that would adequately cater for both energy provision, maintenance and its impact on the environment.

The Centre for Energy and Electric Power (CEEP), Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at Tshwane University of Technology, announces its inaugural annual workshop on Energy and the Environment for Africa’s Public Officers.

developing new sources of energy

Progressively, activities that border on developing new sources of energy have been shown to have direct and potentially degenerative impact on the environment globally. Some of the problems identified can be solved or mitigated at the level of policy making and by regulation. However, this calls for policymakers to have a reasonable knowledge of Energy and the Environment.

Consequently, it is imperative for scientists to clearly translate technical terms into understandable language that can help policy makers in their deliberation processes, which will help them make informed decisions for their constituents at local, regional and national levels.

In addition to dealing with the language of technology, the Workshop will attempt to highlight some of the social and political issues that can aid government responses to matters relating to Energy and the Environment.

The Workshop will adopt a case study methodology and focus on participatory engagement and knowledge sharing and dissemination. The format will include presentations from experts from various parts of the continent as well as more developed countries about how they have managed to deal with problems relating to energy and the environment and the lessons learnt in the process.

The aim of the workshop is to create awareness around energy and the environment and to build capacity among Africa’s government officials and political office holders in energy and electric power, and to discuss how the energy sector interacts with and impacts the environment.

If interested to attend this two day workshop please complete the registration form at the end of this document. It will be a privilege to host you and other delegates from your organisation/institution in Tshwane, South Africa and at the same time discussing and debating critical important global issues.

Objectives

• Introducing stakeholders to contemporary concepts around electricity production and management, renewable energy alternatives, climate change, and the impact of energy on the environment
• Attracting new support for public sector management of energy resources
• Highlighting institutional resource providers involved on the African continent in climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Driving the attention on the importance of developing sound energy and environment strategies through all levels of government
• Leveraging the impact of United Nations Workshop of the Parties (COP 17) processes
• Showcasing African and international public sector energy and environment knowledge development initiatives that have helped improve policies
• and practices related to energy and environmental management

Rationale

• To help African policy makers and government officials to better respond to the escalating challenges posed by an increasingly diverse energy mix supporting electrification on the continent and an evolving global climate environment
• To present innovations which have a positive effect on energy and environment policy development and management
• To showcase successful energy and environment management case studies
• To share experiences and lessons in energy and environment policy development and management
• To discuss Africa’s energy and environment institutional framework and architecture
• To underscore the importance of having an informed African legislative community to attract new investment and to increase economic incentive
• to foster R&D in electricity, energy, and climate related technologies
• To present possible strategies to attract more foreign and local private investment in energy and the environment in Africa
• To showcase successful African energy and environment programmes and projects

Topics

• Energy, Technology and the Environment: A Global Perspective
• Electric Power and Energy in Society and Politics
• Africa as a potential source of environmentally friendly energy sources: Issues
• Lessons from the North: Case Studies (USA, Netherlands, Germany and Spain)
• Energy-Technology Innovation (ETI) and Financing Green Technology
• Energy and Natural disasters
• Civil Society Concerns about Energy and the Environment/Climate Change
• A Case for Environmental Protection: Policy Dimension
• Energy and the Environment: Common problems and challenges
• Monitoring and Evaluation of Energy related operations
• Special session on understanding the COP process and the key issues to be addressed during the COP 17 discussions

Output

• Programme Brochures (including programme outline, bios of speakers, contact information of participants and companies)
• Follow-up with supporters and partners
• Workshop report
• Follow-up, starting in December 2011 including:
• Questionnaires sent by CEEP to the participants, one after 5 months and a second after 11 months, followed by phone calls, asking for feedback on what they found useful for their departments/ governments. Feedback will be shared with main collaborators and used to inform 2012 workshop

Attendance

The Energy and Environment Workshop brings together, in particular, Africa’s public officials and legislators from local, provincial and national government, along with key stakeholders involved with energy and environment issues at universities and within the private sector and civil society.

Delegates from countries expected to participate includes Africa, Europe, America and Asia: Government Officials, Academics, International Organisations, Researchers, Corporations, NGOs, Consultants and more.

COP 17 Onward Travel Arrangement Support

The workshop organizers will assist delegates planning to attend the COP 17 discussions in Durban in arranging domestic travel between Tshwane and Durban.

For more information about the Workshop, programme, costs and registration, contact:

• Prof Josiah Munda Tel: +2712 382 4824 or email
• Ms Machelane Sinthumule Tel: +2712 382 4450 or email
• Zelda van Janse van Rensburg Tel: +2712 382 5250 or email
• Amanda van Rensburg Tel: +2712 382 5365 or email

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