Pamela Ntuli, the Chief Director for Environmental Affairs in the department.
The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA), has officially launched the 2025 Temvelo Environmental Symposium, Expo and Awards at the Chilli Pepper Boutique Hotel in Mbombela on December 4.
During the launch the MEC for DARDLEA, Nompumelelo Hlophe was represented by Chief Director for Environmental Affairs in the department Pamela Ntuli, she highlighted the triple planetary crisis – climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
These awards would drive environmental innovation and recognize ground-breaking initiatives, inspiring transformative action across every sector of society – from mining to agricultural. It would provide a platform for entrepreneurs, young people and community leaders to reimagine their roles as environmental stewards.
It is open to communities, individuals, learning institutions and municipalities. Business and Industrial winners will be recognized with trophies and certificates, while provincial government, in collaboration with the private sector, will award individual winners with financial prizes and trophies.
The awards will include categories for:
- Circular Economy Innovations
- Climate Change Mitigation Strategies
- Pollution Reduction and Management
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Sustainable Community Development
The awards are considered critical, especially during the festive season with heightened consumption and waste. Innovators redesigning gift-giving, businesses creating zero-waste holiday solutions and community leaders developing sustainable festive practices, would be highlighted.
Ntuli called for reusable decorations and locally sourced, environmentally friendly gifts to transform the festive season into a celebration of environmental stewardship.
She stressed that the province, as the rest of the world, stood at critical crossroads which demands unprecedented action and imagination; referring to COP 29’s identification of a current unsustainable trajectory. She also called for existing economic models to be fundamentally transformed to ensure planetary survival.
Pollution is a major environmental challenge; a threat to human health, economic productivity and social well-being. Ntuli, discussed how scientific evidence is showing its devastating impact. “Annually, over 9 million global premature deaths occur as micro plastics contaminate every ecosystem, from oceans to the air we breathe. Economic losses from environmental degradation now outweigh the entire GDP of many developing nations.”
Closing date for entries and nominations is 09 February 2025.
Forms can be accessed through www.temvelo.co.za
