29 Jun 2025

Botswana is committed to significantly reduce the country’s level of pollution through environmental conservation, pollution reduction and use of sustainable and renewable energy, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi has said.

 Speaking during a courtesy call paid to him by the German ambassador to Botswana, Ms Gabriela Bennemann and Mr Michael Evertz, a sustainability researcher in Gaborone Wednesday, the minister said through collaborative efforts, issues of climate change could be controlled and dealt with.

“We can find the best ways of adapting and mitigating climate change, so that the world can be a better place for us all.” 

The minister applauded Mr Evertz, who is also an economist, for embarking on a cycling and mountaineering tour to raise awareness on environmental sustainability and protection.

He said the initiative dubbed ‘Expedition Hope’ was critical in sensitising the world about the importance of cross-border collaboration, as well as the importance of environmental preservation and sustainability.

The courtesy call was meant to express appreciation to Mr Evertz for promoting environmental protection, show support for innovative approaches to climate advocacy, as well as explore areas of continued dialogue and partnerships in protecting the environment.

Furthermore, Mr Mmolotsi also expressed delight that Mr Evertz had made a bold decision to demonstrate to the world that it was important and possible to adopt a mode of transport that did not pollute or contaminate the environment. The German ambassador also applauded Mr Evertz for his noble mission to raise awareness on the importance of keeping the environment and the planet clean and safe.

For his part, 66 years old Mr Evertz who embarked on his 25 000 kilometre journey on April 23, 2023 in Germany, said he was in a mission to create awareness on environmental sustainability and protection and to preach the spirit of collaboration in the fight against environmental challenges.

Through his initiative, he said he aimed to promote cycling as a safer and environmentally-friendly means of transport.

“We have been talking about cross-country and cross-cultural collaboration for centuries, but nothing happened. So, I started two years ago and my mission is to bring people and countries together to collaborate in the fight against environmental challenges, as I believe that cross-cultural collaboration is really possible,” he said.

From Botswana, Mr Evertz said he was heading to South Africa, explaining that he had embarked on his 25 000 kilometre cycling journey for 26 months, across 22 countries. ENDS