Clean energy model sun2share presented to promote green tourism in Africa
From 7th to 10th of December 2018, the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2018 took place in Maun, Botswana. The event brought together 150 delegates from 26 countries involved in the development and promotion of sustainable tourism. Among representatives of the public sector, the tourism industry, NGOs and development agencies, meeco with its CEO Mr. Sebastian Bovensiepen and SADC manager Botswana Mr. Robert Hanna attended the conference. The main topic addressed during the annual conference was the acceleration of sustainable tourism to meet the industries green house gases reduction targets.
Our CEO Sebastian Bovensiepen (left) with Richard Malesu the Manager of the Botswana
Tourism Organisation and Randy Durband (right), CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference.
Following the Kasane Call to Action on Sustainable Consumption and Production, which contains a road map to reduce the negative impact on the environment of the tourism industry, the participants discussed possibilities and approaches to achieve a sustainable destination management, to act as drivers of sustainable tourism and to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. The importance of a green tourism was underlined as the industry it one of the largest employers worldwide and thereby substantially contributes to climate change.
Sebastian Bovensiepen during his speech about the financing model sun2share.
The opening speech was given by His Excellency The Fourth President of the Republic of Botswana, Lieutenant General Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama. In Session #10 “Achievements towards the 17 SDGs in the tourism sector”, meeco’s CEO Mr. Sebastian Bovensiepen presented the company’s work, especially in Africa. He introduced the project development and financing model sun2share, which has been launched in Botswana to further promote and speed up the adoption of clean renewable energy options and displace polluting and expensive old technologies like diesel fuel generators. “sun2share completely changes the way the tourism sector purchases its clean energy, offering support for the CAPEX costs and promising savings from day one,” he explained. “Since we launched the sun2share clean energy financing model in Botswana, the interest has been resounding, and we have been asked to introduce it in other African nations like Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe to name just a few.”
During the conference, the meeco representatives received an encouraging amount of positive feedback and got in contact with potential new partners and clients in the region. Especially Botswana has an outstanding wildlife diversity including two UNESCO World Heritage sites and represents a popular tourist destination hosting some of the most exclusive Safari lodges and Camps in Africa. For these locations and their guests, a reliable and sustainable / renewable power supply is essential. The sun2share business model ensures a sustainable and consistent energy generation based on a joint project funding. This innovative clean energy approach enables safari lodges to reduce the use of diesel generators and act as pioneers in terms of sustainable tourism in Africa.
If you are interested in finding out more about how sun2share can help you in your business please send us an email to the address below:
| E-Mail: | info@meeco.net |
| Weblink: | sun2share |
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Read more about our participation at the IRENA week in 2018. |
