Cape Town Green Week (19 - 23 October 2009) Launched

For one week in late October, Cape Town will become one of the greenest business cities on Earth as the City of Cape Town joins hands with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and a range of partner organisations for an action-packed Green Week.

UNEP FI, the largest and oldest partnership between the UN system and the world of banking, insurance and investment, will hold its first ever Global Roundtable in Africa at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on 22-23 October, 2009.

Hundreds of financiers, investors, business leaders, built environment and property professionals from around the world and across Africa, joined by green groups, will gather at the CTICC (October 19-23) for a week-long series of events exploring how a green approach to business can create jobs, protect the environment and build better, fairer communities with towns and cities that work.

Partnering organisations supporting Cape Town Green Week include: the City of Cape Town; the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI); The Cape Town Partnership; Banking Association of South Africa (BASA); Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA); Africa investor (Ai); Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), National Business Initiative (NBI); and Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Other organisations and initiatives are welcome to back Cape Town Green Week. (For more details on the partner organisations see Editor's Notes).

Climate Change: Cape Town to Copenhagen

Cape Town's Green Week will put the city at the centre of the global green business revolution just six weeks ahead of a crucial United Nations Climate Change summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, when the governments of the world will map out their response to the perils of global warming. Cape Town Green Week will also enable African finance, business, civil society and green groups to send a strong message, calling for action, to the historic UN gathering in Copenhagen

Achim Steiner, United Nations Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UNEP congratulated the organisations behind the initiative: "This initiative captures the very essence of the needed transformation to a smart, low-carbon, clean "green" economy that generates jobs and better services for communities in Africa and across the planet.

"UNEP and its 180 partner organisations drawn from across financial services are delighted to be part of an initiative driven by such South African leadership. Dynamic cross sector initiatives like these will help us 'Seal the Deal' in Copenhagen" the UN environmental head added.

Paul Clements Hunt, Head of Geneva-based UNEP FI, explained: "Cape Town Green Week will also provide an opportunity to showcase UNEP's Green Economy Initiative. This is a global initiative to mobilize and refocus the global economy towards investments in clean technologies and 'natural' infrastructure while combating climate change and triggering an employment boom in the 21st century."

"The world of finance and investment will mainstream green economic thinking and sustainability as it seeks to rebuild balance sheets, reputation and trust after the financial and economic crisis of 2007-2009. UNEP FI's two-day Global Roundtable-which will bring Cape Town Green Week to a close-provides the perfect opportunity for African and South African financial institutions to play a leading role in the challenging transition to sustainable finance," Clements-Hunt added.

Piet Van Zyl, the City of Cape Town's Executive Director of Strategy and Planning, commented: "As a green pioneer city in Africa, Cape Town is honoured to host this important cluster of "green" events in October. Cape Town is a leading global destination for sustainability-related events and tourism, and we are encouraged to see how the business world is taking green issues on board. During that week the City will be launching green building guidelines which will guide resource efficiency improvements in new and existing buildings, and help build a low carbon future for Cape Town."

Cas Coovadia, Managing Director of the Banking Association of South Africa and Chair of UNEP FI's African Task Force for the past seven years, said: "This is a remarkable alignment of green events and business action in Cape Town. It will also enable the City to highlight the impressive steps it is taking to address the sustainable development agenda at a time when we have guests, including hundreds of senior financiers, from around the world".

According to CTICC Chief Executive Officer, Rashid Toefy, the launch of "NOW (Nurture Our World)' is a symbol of the CTICC's dedication to becoming a leading environmentally sustainable convention centre and is a call to action, and encapsulates the centre's responsibility to address issues like climate change and the preservation of the environment for future generations. NOW symbolises CTICC's commitment to total sustainability through every facet of the organisation. "

"CTICC is committed to transforming the events industry to one that is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable and the NOW concept will serve as a catalyst to implement change. 'We are proud of the fact that CTICC is the first convention centre in Africa that is a member of the UN Global Compact, a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption,' said Toefy.

Highlights of the week:

• * UNEP FI, a unique partnership between UNEP and more than 180 banks, insurers and investment institutions, will bring its Global Roundtable to Africa for the first time. Five hundred financial executives will gather at CTICC on 22-23 October to explore the theme of 'Financing change, Changing finance.' UNEP FI will also hold a series of training events across Cape Town during the week.
• Africa Investor (Ai), a media and investment advisory group, will partner with UNEP FI to hold a Pan African CEO business meeting at CTICC on 21st October to debate green business issues and to fine-tune an African business message for the UN Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. Ai will also join UNEP FI to present its prestigious 2009 African Business Awards at a gala dinner on 22 October.
• The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) will convene its Annual Convention & Exhibition on the 21-23 October at CTICC to cover the very latest ground on the green revolution taking place in property, city design and responsible real estate investment. The GBCSA will also launch its pilot Green Star SA Rating Tool for Retail Centres, following the successful launch of the tool for commercial office buildings last year.
• The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), in partnership with the National Business Initiative, will unveil information from South Africa's largest companies on their greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies. A CDP report detailing the climate change actions of businesses in the JSE 100 will be released during Green Week at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

In addition to these core events the following initiatives will be launched:

The City of Cape Town launches its Green Building Guidelines.
• The Cape Town Partnership will be launching its Green City Programme, focusing on sustainable development in the Cape Town Central City. The Partnership has been involved in a number of energy efficiency initiatives to date, and is a member of the World Business Districts Network for Sustainable Development.
• Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) will be announcing their 'Nurture Our World' which is a symbol of the CTICC's dedication to becoming a leading environmentally sustainable convention centre.

Africa Investor will be hosting the Africa investor Investment and Business Leaders Awards 2009.

Additional Quotes from UNEP FI and Cape Town Green Week Partners:
Commenting from London, Robert Tacon, Chair of UNEP Finance Initiative, the oldest and largest partnership between the United Nations system and worldwide financial services, said: "With this incredible concentration of green business events, the launch of various environmental and climate change-related initiatives, and a commitment to carbon neutrality of all of the meetings, it's safe to say that for one week Cape Town will be one of the Greenest Business Cities- if not The Greenest Business City-on Earth." The UNEP Finance Initiative Chair added: "The worldwide financial services community is delighted to be bringing the UNEP FI Global Roundtable to Africa for the first time during such an incredibly rich green week in Cape Town."

For more information contact:

Editor's Notes:
More about the Cape Town Green Week partner organisations:

UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)

UNEP FI is a strategic public-private partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector. UNEP works with over 180 banks, insurers and investment firms, and a range of partner organizations, to understand the impacts of environmental, social and governance issues on financial performance and sustainable development. Through a comprehensive work programme encompassing research, training, events and regional activities, UNEP FI carries out its mission to identify, promote and realize the adoption of best environmental and sustainability practice at all levels of financial institution operations. For more information visit the UNEP FI website. Johannesburg-based Scatterlings Conference & Events is working with UNEP FI to deliver the 2009 Global Roundtable.

UNEP Green Economy Initiative (GEI)

Believing that mobilising and refocusing the global economy towards investments in clean technologies and 'natural' infrastructure such as forests and soils is the best bet for real growth, combating climate change and triggering an employment boom in the 21st century, UNEP and leading economists launched the Green Economy Initiative (GEI) aimed at seizing an historic opportunity to bring about tomorrow's economy today in October 2008. The GEI has three key elements: the Green Economy Report, that will provide an overview, analysis and synthesis of how public policy can help markets accelerate the transition towards a green economy; The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) study, a partnership project focusing on valuation issues; and finally the Green Jobs report, published in September 2008, that looked at employment trends. For more information visit the UNEP website.

Cape Town Partnership

The Cape Town Partnership is a collaboration between the public and private sectors working together to develop, promote and manage Cape Town Central City. The Partnership is an independent non-profit organisation and it was formed when the City of Cape Town, the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), the Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders came together to address issues of urban degeneration and disinvestment in the Central City and related social problems. For more information visit the Cape Town Partnership website.

The National Business Initiative

The National Business Initiative (NBI) is a voluntary group of leading national and multi-national companies, working together towards sustainable growth and development in South Africa through partnerships, practical programmes and policy engagement. Since its establishment in 1995, the NBI has been an advocate for the collective role of business in support of a stable democracy, growing economy and healthy natural environment. As one of close to 60 global regional partners to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the NBI provides a platform for business leadership and a vision of how companies can contribute to a sustainable society. For more information visit the NBI website.

Green Building Council of South Africa

The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) is an independent, non-profit organisation spearheaded by leaders from all sectors of the commercial property industry. Launched in 2007, the green building council aims to lead the transformation of the South African property industry to ensure that all buildings are designed, built and operated in an environmentally sustainable way that will allow South Africans to work and live in healthy, efficient and productive environments. For more information visit the GBCSA website.

Africa Investor

Africa investor is one of Africa's most respected multimedia investment news and information publishers. It supplies investors and policy makers with information on Africa's investment environment and sheds light on issues that inform investment decisions. Advised by a board of investment experts from business and development agencies, Ai works across the publishing, internet, television and events platforms to deliver fully integrated communications solutions for its clients.
Africa investor owns Africa investor magazine (Ai) a bi monthly business and finance glossy, www. africa-investor.com, a daily online news site, the Ai TV broadband television channel; the Ai Index Series, an investment data tracking service, the annual pan-African Africa investor Awards and an established events planning business. For more information visit the Africa Investor website.

Cape Town International Conference Centre

The CTICC is so much more than just another convention centre. Set in the heart of the Cape Town city centre, the CTICC is a place where people from all walks of life are brought together, a tangible demonstration of the power of partnership, and an excellent example of the success that can be achieved when public and private enterprises work together towards shared goals.

For more information visit the CTICC website.

Issued by:
Communication Department, City of Cape Town