The South East African Climate Consortium Student Forum

In response to the pressing issues of climate change and sustainability the South East African Climate Consortium Student Forum (SEACC SF) was formed in relation to the South East African Climate Consortium. SEACC SF, the brainchild of Dr Tony Ribbink, aims to lead a student crusade to tackle issues of sustainability and climate change. We recognise that students, as potential leaders and key players in society, have a responsibility to respond to what has become one of the strongest moral callings of our time by exerting our influence to create more sustainable societies in order that we can protect our natural environment, as well as the rights, of current and future generations, to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being, as enshrined in Section 24 (a) of the South African Constitution.

Sustainability through Knowledge and Action

SEACC SF at Rhodes University acts in a dual capacity, both as a single society at Rhodes University, as well as being a node of part of the broader SEACC SF network, which consists of nodes at the University of Fort Hare, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and Walter Sisulu University. SEACC SF espouses a commitment to the principles of the Green Generation:

• An evolution of energy production, based on sustainable carbon-usage and renewable energy, thereby reducing our dependency on fossil fuels;
• Collective individual commitment to responsible, sustainable consumption;
• Establishing a green economy, to lift people out of poverty and create sustainable green jobs;
• Creating a green global education system.

In order to achieve these principles we espouse the following aims:

• Our primary aim is the creation of a network that hopes to establish, as a moral and social norm amongst students across South East Africa, an engagement with issues of sustainability and climate change;
• To facilitate discussion and cooperation amongst members, societies, NGOs and individual student researchers;
• To create and develop a knowledge base, which can be utilised by students and non-students and SEACC SF and non-SEACC SF members alike in their endeavours to tackle climate change and issues of sustainability;
• To create a broad activism base from which to influence policy on an institutional, business and governmental level;
• To create and develop on-the-ground, practical sustainability initiatives and models that can be utilised to tackle issues of climate change and sustainability in varying contexts;
• To raise awareness and funding in order to strengthen the response to issues of sustainability and climate change;
• To work in conjunction with SEACC in order to assist them in realising their goals and objectives;
• To stimulate and collate research in the field of climate change and sustainability;
• To educate the broader public on issues of climate change and sustainability.

The four pillars of SEACC SF are community engagement, operations, research and education.

Get involved in the ACTION:

SEACC SF is a movement created by and run by students and we are very keen to expand our movement by getting motivated and passionate students onboard, in order to help spread awareness, spearhead projects, develop initiatives, and to help maximise the efficiency of SEACC SF in order that it may achieve its ideals. If you are keen to get on board and help out then please contact us! Here are some of the projects we are successfully undertaking at the moment.

• WildREACH:  An environmental education programme that aims to foster a sense of awe and respect for the natural environment in school children through educational field trips.
• Karoo Campaign: A national opposition to the development of hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo,
• Eskom Energy Challenge: Working with Eskom to monitor electricity consumption and reward those most vigilant in reducing their consumption.
• Green Coega Research Team: An inter-disciplinary student research team working with academics in developing an alternative industrial development proposal for the Coega Industrial Development Zone.
• Know Your Food Project: An inter-disciplinary task team researching the environmental impacts that various dietary options have.
• Electric Bicycle: Developing an electric bicycle during the National Science Festival in Grahamstown, in partnership with the Environmental Learning and Research Centre.
• SEA Pledges and SEAS (Sustainable Education and Skills) Centres: A large public participation environmental project aimed at moral and monetary pledges to protect our oceans and natural environment.
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties 17 (COP 17) and Conference of the Youth 7 (COY 7): includes organising the COP 17 Climate Change Lecture Series during the 3rd academic term, in partnership with the Environmental Learning and Research Centre,
• Green Campus/City Initiatives: Various Green Campus/City Initiatives, such as recycling, water-wise campaigning, standardising double-sided printing, etc.
• Blue Buck Summit (15th-18th July): Hosting the first meeting of young leaders in environmentalism from across South Africa.

More info

• Visit our website:http://www.ru.ac.za/rugreen/seaccsf/
• Contact Alex Lenferna on g07L2342(at)campus.ru.ac.za / 072-372. 4144, or Olek Kaminski on g06k1066(at)campus.ru.ac.za

Go to the Rhodes University ENVIRONMENT front page. Suggestions/Questions? Contact environment(at)ru.ac.za