23 Mar 2014

Botswana will join the rest of the world to observe the Earth Hour, the largest global climate change on March 29. The main event is scheduled for Rooftop Game City from 8:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m.

Addressing members of the media on Friday, March 21, Earth Hour country manager, Ms Florah Mmereki said Botswana like the rest of the world had been honoring the Earth Hour for the past four years. 

Ms Mmereki said every individual should take part in the Earth Hour observation stating that if all took part, the environment would get relived of the carbon dioxide which came from the use of electricity.

She said her organisation together with other stakeholders had managed to reach out to 850 000, businesses, schools and offices about climate change and Earth Hour.

The outreach, she said, was already bearing fruit as some schools,  homes and offices visited had started practicing energy conservation by using energy saving bulbs.

For his part, Vivo Energy Botswana brand manager, Mr Shinki Thari, highlighted that the issue of emission was a serious problem that needed to be addressed and said a heavy truck travelling for 10 000 kilometers emitted 10 600 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide.

Mr Thari said one should think of the numbers of heavy trucks which travel through the country and said that was why they have introduced a product called diesel extra with a view of trying to protect the environment.

Gaborone City Council mayor, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa who is also the ambassador of the Earth Hour in Botswana said as council they were coming up with ways which could help reduce traffic on the roads and wre awaiting the minister’s signature on the pay parking bye law.

He said they want to spearhead the use of bicycles in the city by workers when going to work in the morning something he stressed would ease congestion on the roads and would also keep people healthy. ENDS