ν Staff Reporter
Capricorn Group, through joint donations from the Capricorn Foundation and Bank Windhoek, donated a total of N$500 000 on Monday, 20 November 2023, to the environment, forestry and tourism ministry towards Namibia’s participation and pavilion at the COP28 conference. COP28 is scheduled for 30 November 2023 in Dubai, UAE.
This is the second year that Capricorn Group, Capricorn Foundation and Bank Windhoek have donated towards Namibia’s pavilion at COP28.
“Our pivotal sponsorship towards the Namibian pavilion at COP28 is more than a financial commitment or supporting a climate change event; it is an investment in creating a platform for Namibians to continue to engage with key global stakeholders whilst catalysing a deliberate movement to drive collaborative action between the public and private sectors to forge a path towards a more sustainable and resilient Namibian economy and world. Our continued support and presence at COP28 signify our commitment to playing a critical role in creating a legacy of positive change that will echo through generations,” said Ruan Bestbier, Capricorn Group Head: Sustainability.
Capricorn Group, the Capricorn Foundation and Bank Windhoek selected a party of delegates to represent the group at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, commonly called COP28. The group participates in the conference to leverage Capricorn Group as an organisation that supports sustainable practices while providing sustainability financing solutions to benefit its stakeholders and the socio-economic development of its operating regions.
“The Capricorn Foundation, the main driver of Capricorn Group’s CSR initiatives, is proud to support Namibia’s participation at COP28. The Capricorn Foundation has sustainability as one of its focus areas and championed food security through the launch of the Capricorn Foundation Food Waste Challenge, which, now in its second year, has become the signature project of the Foundation. I look forward to representing the Capricorn Foundation at COP28 to present a case study on our Food Waste Challenge and to build a network with like-minded international organisations,” said Marlize Horn, executive officer of the Capricorn Foundation.
This year, the 2023 COP28 will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 30 November until 12 December 2023. It would be the 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference since the first UN Climate Agreement in 1992. Governments use this conference to agree on policies to limit global temperature rises and adapt to impacts associated with climate change.
The United Arab Emirates is one of the most vulnerable to climate change countries in the world, located in a region with a scorching and humid climate. Rising temperatures are already severely impacting the population’s daily life, increasing payments for electricity and water making it difficult to walk in the street.