Standard Bank is co-sponsoring the 2019 Green Youth Indaba, an annual conference that brings together industry experts and youth to encourage participation and sustainable skills development in the green economy with the aim of promoting more inclusive economic growth.
The 6th Annual Green Youth Indaba will take place on 18 and 19 June 2019 and will be hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Tshwane. Over 800 young environmental leaders will gather together for two days of discussions, workshops, and networking to raise awareness and help generate solutions to environmental challenges such as climate change and our shared responsibility in lowering carbon emissions.
“One of Standard Bank’s strong beliefs is that `everything you do sets something in motion’ and what better way to demonstrate this than by giving young entrepreneurs a platform to discuss how all stakeholders in society can do something positive for the environment that will have a lasting ripple effect on society?” said Wendy Dobson Head of GPAS at Standard Bank. “We aim to be more than a bank and that means we must appreciate the role we play in society as our long-term success and profitability are critically dependent on the social, environmental and economic stability of this continent we call home.”
The Annual Green Youth Indaba is organized by the Green Youth Network (GYN), a black-owned not-for-profit organization responsible for the advancement of youth interest and sustainable skills development in the green economy, as well as promoting comprehensive education on issues relating to environmental conservation in South Africa. The GYN is a national network of over 10,000 action-oriented South African youths who are concerned about environmental issues and determined to make a positive change through innovation, entrepreneurship, skills development, financial access and job creation in the green economy.
Standard Bank partnered with the GYN in 2018 for the first time to showcase the bank’s involvement in supporting green economy initiatives and entrepreneurship. The bank renewed the partnership in 2019 to facilitate greater engagement between government, industry and broader society in an effort to inspire environmentally-responsible South African youth to find innovative solutions to the country’s complex environmental and economic challenges.
Some of the key issues that will be discussed at the 2019 Green Youth Indaba include:
- Youth Employment: Opportunities and challenges created by the green economy
- Waste management and recycling
- Skills development: necessary aid and skills needed to tap into the green economy
- Water conservation and wetlands management
- Energy efficiency and renewable energy
- The Fourth Industrial Revolution and technological advancement within the green economy
“Our youth are building a better future for all South Africans,” said Dobson. “We hope that in co-sponsoring this event we will be able to do our part in helping young entrepreneurs, many of whom will go on to be our future leaders.”
