Saliem Fakir

The findings of the South Africa Environment Outlook report were predictable. It talks of a dismal future amid the withering of natural resources as a result of rapid growth and consumption. You can bet that in four or five years’ time if a similar report is done, the grim prognosis will not be any different. In fact, the situation might well be worse, given the projected growth in the economy of about 6%.

Peak oil predictions vary depending on who one speaks too and which type of modelling is used. According to some experts, we are in a peak oil period already, meaning that we have reached the crest of the ­supply curve and are consuming the remaining reserves of oil. Some have mooted the idea of the oil economy being replaced by the hydrogen economy because it is least likely to disrupt our ­current way of life.

Thirty powerful, influential women are featured in this month’s edition of <i>Earthyear</i>. What were we thinking when we decided to embark on this unprecedented celebration?

All economies today are reliant on science and technology to various degrees to sustain economic growth and meet their development needs. Today many countries continue to remain poor because they have not addressed the technological gap. But the Third World is capable of tackling the technology gap without looking North, reckons Saliem Fakir.

"What is important is that corporate social responsibility is not just a public relations exercise but truly reflects commitment and good ethics. All one can suggest is that there is always room for improvement and innovation." Saliem Fakir, chairperson of the judges’ panel, salutes the state bodies that made submissions to this year’s Greening the Future awards.

Scientific knowledge lives a contradictory life: it is both a source of human enlightenment and, ironically, the bane of human civilisation. Its propensity for evil and good — and given its far-reaching influence over human society — makes it necessary for there to be collective oversight of the scientific community, writes Saliem Fakir of the World Conservation Union.

"I have to admit that when I look back over the past 10 years I find it hard not to be proud of our achievements. We may not always realise it, but despite being a new democracy in a developing country, our environmental reconstruction and transformation is unsurpassed anywhere in the world." Salim Fakir of the IUCN (World Conservation Union) reflects on the past decade of transformation.

During last year’s WSSD, an historic greening initiative was taking place far from the public eye. Behind the scenes, the Jo’burg World Summit Company’s tender committee was testing a novel idea to shape the way in which both purchasers and merchants think of their goods and services.

This is the first year that the <i>Mail & Guardian</i> has hosted the Greening the Future-Investing in the Environment Awards and we have learnt a lot in the process of choosing winners. Chairperson of the judging panel Saliem Fakir describes how the winners were chosen.

Saliem Fakir, director of IUCN-South Africa Office, debates the chances of the World Summit succeeding – particularly after the failures at Bali.

Africa has become a prime location for a thriving hunting industry. In Zimbabwe the industry is valued at R240-million, in South Africa at R140-million and in Tanzania at about R100-million.