Santam calls on local municipalities to enter annual Eco-Logic Awards

Climate change that last year resulted in unprecedented hail and flooding is a collective challenge, a shared risk that requires innovative solutions from all players in our society, including local municipalities, who need to work with their communities

In recognising that municipalities bear the responsibility of managing the ramifications of volatile weather conditions and climate change-related disasters, Santam’s sponsorship of the municipal category of the Enviropaedia Eco-Logic Awards is designed to showcase their efforts.

According to the Santam Head of Sustainability, Ray-ann Sedres, there are many municipalities that are already doing great work in encouraging environmental consciousness with their constituents.

“We believe the awards, and our sponsorship of the municipal category provides a platform to recognise the good work some municipalities are doing, but also to create awareness of how to address climate risk. We want to issue a call to these municipalities to enter the awards so we can build momentum towards building sustainable and safer environments,” says Sedres.

Santam’s sponsorship of the award is a logical extension of the company’s partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (DCoGTA) to support and drive the national programme, Business-Adopt-a-Municipality (BAAM).

Sedres says that Santam is committed to its ongoing partnership with municipalities by making available its risk assessment and management expertise to local government to promote a more resilient landscape, focusing on potential risks that affect the future and also to develop ways to mitigate them.

John Melville, Santam Executive Head of Risk Services adds, “We value the need to develop meaningful ways of working with local government institutions to help communities deal with increasing risks. Fire and fire protection systems; safety and security; building regulations and building accessibility; climate change; adaptation to climate change and an increase in natural disasters, all form a suite of systemic risks, which must be addressed in a collaborated effort,” adds Melville.

The Eco-Logic Awards is an initiative by Enviropaedia, a knowledge and network building project designed to motivate and facilitate wide scale participation in social, environmental, economic and political sustainability.
The objective of the Eco-Logic Awards is to recognise and reward those individuals, communities and municipalities who are making a significant contribution toward creating an eco-logically sustainable society and environment.

Closing date for entries is 31 July 2013 and the winners will be announced at the Ego-Logic Awards function on 26 September 2013 in Johannesburg. Visit www.enviropaedia.com for more information on the awards and how to enter.