Swazi Observer

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CHAMPIONING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

By SITHEMBILE HLATSHWAYO | 2025-02-01

Through initiatives like the Temvelo Awards, Eswatini positions itself as a leader in environmental stewardship.

By rewarding innovation, fostering collaboration, and inspiring collective action, the awards play a pivotal role in addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

As Eswatini continues to align its development goals with global sustainability standards, the Temvelo Awards serve as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that environmental responsibility is not just a priority, but a shared mission for all citizens and stakeholders.

Launched approximately 13 years ago, the Temvelo Awards were established to address the urgent challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The awards serve not only as a recognition platform but also as a catalyst for change, fostering innovation and encouraging sustainable practices across all sectors of society.

By honouring outstanding environmental efforts, the awards inspire individuals, organisations and communities to embrace sustainability as a core value and shared responsibility.
The Temvelo Awards reinforce Eswatini's commitment to environmental sustainability, offering a platform to:

g Celebrate achievements in environmental leadership.
g    Inspire innovation in addressing environmental challenges.
g    Promote shared responsibility for safeguarding natural resources.

Environmental Management as a Pillar of Sustainable Development
Sustainable development in Eswatini is inextricably linked to sound environmental management. This approach not only protects natural resources but also contributes to:
g    Job creation through green industries.
g    Poverty eradication by fostering equitable access to resources.
g    Reducing inequality via inclusive environmental initiatives.
Through the EEA's efforts, Eswatini achieves a balance between development and environmental preservation, ensuring long-term socio-economic benefits while adhering to global sustainability frameworks.

Objectives of the
Temvelo Awards
The Temvelo Awards are guided by clear objectives that align with Eswatini's broader environmental and socio-economic priorities:
g    Encourage Environmental Leadership: Reward entities that demonstrate exceptional commitment to environmental protection, conservation, and climate change mitigation.
g    Enhance Environmental Awareness: Promote understanding of critical issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
g    Foster Innovation: Recognise creative solutions to environmental challenges that are scalable and impactful.
g    Motivate Participation: Inspire individuals, businesses, and communities to adopt sustainable practices and actively participate in environmental initiatives.
g    Support Sustainability Goals: Contribute to Eswatini's national strategies for environmental sustainability, poverty reduction, and socio-economic development.
g    Build Collaborative Networks: Strengthen partnerships among stakeholders to foster long-term environmental stewardship and cooperation.
Importance of the
Temvelo Awards
The awards hold significant value in Eswatini’s journey toward a more sustainable future. They:
g    Raise Awareness: Shine a spotlight on environmental issues and encourage urgent action.
g    Encourage Best Practices: Set a benchmark for environmental responsibility across sectors.
g    Drive Innovation: Reward impactful and creative solutions to ecological challenges.
g    Strengthen Policy Advocacy: Amplify calls for policies supporting sustainability.
g    Empower Communities: Provide recognition and resources to communities and individuals leading environmental efforts, inspiring others to follow their example.