Manzini Municipality Joins The World in Celebrating Earth Hour
…Citizens urged to demonstrate commitment to the fight against climate change by switching off lights and electrical appliances for at least 60 minutes this Saturday, 8:30pm
Every last Saturday of March, at 08:30pm, the globe switches off its non-essential lights and electrical appliances for at least 60 minutes as a form of raising awareness of the need to take action on energy conversation and climate change for the benefit of the present and future generations. This happens as part of a worldwide event that is referred to as Earth Hour. According to information sourced from World Wild Fund for Nature, which are the global organisers of Earth Hour, this global event is aimed at encouraging individuals, households, communities and even corporates to show support to the fight against climate change as well as show commitment towards realizing a better planet Earth through energy conservation. According to information from the European Environment Agency, approximately 40 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions are emitted during electricity generation. Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas that results in global warming and ultimately climate change. Therefore, when citizens reduce the use of electricity, they minimize the need for excessive power generation and, by extension, the production of carbon dioxide. The Earth Hour event also marks a contribution towards attainment of Goal Number 13 (Climate Action) of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); which advocates for countries to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. It also resonates with Goal Number 11 of the same global goals; which calls for sustainable cities and communities. This is a time when individuals, households and even businesses demonstrate solidarity with the rest of the globe in their resolve that preservation of nature is the foundation of a healthy planet and a cost-effective solution to environmental disaster. The theme for this year’s Earth Hour is ‘Shape Our Future’; which calls for a shift towards creating a better world where mankind and nature can thrive. The Municipal Council of Manzini joins the rest of the world in celebrating the 2022 Earth Hour. Individual citizens, households, churches and even the business sector are encouraged to show solidarity with the rest of the world by switching off their lights and electrical appliances for at least 60 minutes; beginning at 8:30pm this coming Saturday. In fact, they are encouraged not only to do so as a once-off event during Earth Hour but make it a daily practice to minimize power consumption. The business sector of the City of Manzini is also encouraged to find ways through which they can minimize electricity usage through opting for alternative energy such as solar.
…PLANS UNDERWAY TO MAKE MANZINI AN ENERGY SMART CITY
The Municipal Council of Manzini continues to work tirelessly, through a number of interventions, towards protection of the environment and by so doing decelerating climate change. The monthly clean-up campaigns that the Municipality conducts in partnership with various stakeholders count as one of such interventions. Moreover, the Municipality has recently established a buy-back-centre facility in the city as a means to reduce the volumes of waste that end up being disposed of at the Municipal Controlled Dumpsite. That too, is one of the ways in which the organisation strives to reduce the greenhouse gases that cause global warming and climate change. According to the October 2021 edition of the Sustainability Magazine, domestic waste is the third biggest contributor to climate change. According to the magazine, when the waste at the dumpsite or landfill begins to decompose (break down), it releases harmful gases into the atmosphere; and those gases contribute to global warming. The Municipality is now on course to taking the waste recycling programme a step further; not only by encouraging waste separation at the household level but also introducing waste upcycling initiatives as part of citizen economic empowerment within the communities. Not only that, but the Municipality is also moving towards introducing energy efficient technology in the area of city lighting and traffic lighting. The objective is to ensure that city security lighting and traffic lights consume as little energy as possible compared to the present scenario. Moreover, some of the streetlights in the city have already been taken off the electricity grid and, instead, solar power is being utilized.
…MUNICIPALITY’S EMPLOYEES JOIN THE NATION IN CELEBRATING MARULA FESTIVAL
The Municipal Council of Manzini, in partnership with Matsapha Town Council, Municipal Council of Mbabane and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development last weekend joined the rest of the nation in participating in the 2022 Annual Marula Festival which was held at Buhleni Royal Residence. The following photos were taken during the ceremony…