TODAY I end the write ups on the 2016 World Environmental Awards celebrations with the Media Awards that were held last week at Lusaka’s Hotel Intercontinental.
Deserving journalists walked away with certificates, shields and prize money.
But before I give a full list of who got what, I want to echo Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Deputy Minister Davies Mwango’s remarks on the collaboration of stakeholders in the promotion of communication and dissemination of environmental and climate change information.
It is imperative that stakeholders enhance awareness and understanding of the opportunities and impact that surrounds environmental management and climate change.
When you talk about opportunities, it means, for example, the business involved in the recycling industry.
The huge mountains of plastic and paper waste dotted around townships countrywide presents an opportunity for people to make money if they get involved in the recycling business.
But people can only get to know about this if they are provided with information like what the minister said.
You cannot believe how many phone calls, emails and text messages I have received in the three weeks when I wrote about companies involved in recycling of plastics.
Companies, embassies and individuals have contacted me for addresses of firms that are recycling materials.
Against this background, I urge companies in the recycling business to expand their horizon create jobs and make more money.
These are opportunities that some youths in townships should tap into by collecting waste and sell to recycling companies unlike waiting for an election year to be used as tools of violence, moreover for peanuts.
Zambia cannot continue importing PP sacks when the raw material is cheap and in abundance.
As much as we are affected by the effects of climate change, on the other hand there are opportunities like job creation which the youths can tap into.
For example, climate change mitigation and adaptation has presented various job opportunities which the youths should take advantage of.
According to Environmental and Energy News, Climate Change Mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases.
Mitigation can mean using new technologies and renewable energies, making older equipment more energy efficient, or changing management practices or consumer behaviour.
Global disasters related to the weather offer significant opportunities for companies positioned to help clients prepare for the consequences of climate change, according to a report by Environmental Business International (EBI).
In its report, EBI looks at how service providers are positioning their companies to work in this sector and also at the challenges involved in pioneering adaptation work.
Currently, the climate change adaptation market is primarily in the investigational phase, and amounted to specialty service revenues of US$700 million in the United States in 2013.
EBI forecasts a billion-dollar US industry by 2016 derived mostly from analysis, assessments, mapping and planning projects led by consulting and engineering firms, specialist climate change consultancies, and professional service firms. The global market for this is expected to be approximately US$2 billion.
However, once adaptation moves into the design, engineering and construction phases, EBI predicts the market will see higher growth driven by major projects like desalination plants, levees, sea walls, port reinforcements and similar projects.
Long term, climate change adaptation projects will represent tens of billions of dollars annually, including design and construction.
Even on the local front, there are various projects under the Interim Climate Change Secretariat and the Civil Society that people should take advantage of.
However, this can be achieved if people were aware about what is happening in the sector.
What is also more cardinal is the continued commitment of improving environmental management by ensuring that appropriate policies, plans, programmes, legal and institutional framework.
Coming to the awards, Friday Phiri, Jack Zimba and Violet Mengo of Zambia Daily Mail got the Best Feature and Best News Reporting awards respectively.
The Best Radio Awards went to Kelvin Phiri of ZNBC and Patrick Soko of 5FM Radio for environmental reporting air and water pollution.
Effie Mpande of ZNBC scooped the Best Documentary for analysing the impact of human behaviour in promoting the spread of cholera through underground water sources.
The Best Awareness Award was scoped by Katwishi Bwalya of ZNBC.
The Institutional award went to Muvi TV for their consistency on reporting on environmental issues within and outside Zambia.
This columnist received the Singy Hanyona Award for the overall contribution to environmental and development journalism.
The award recognises consistency and commitment to environmental reporting.
In congratulating the winners, Interim Climate Change Secretariat coordinator David Kaluba appreciated the important role the media plays in increasing public awareness on issues related to climate change in the country.
However, there were some concerns thrown at the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to cast the net wide.
Jona Kunda an environmentalist from Luanshya said there was need to cast the net wide while Chileshe G Musonda said; “consider consulting widely. There are some media personal we deal with but may not be known to you,”
Prince Ananyatele Muyunda said Awards should stretch beyond just media. There are so many actors in this sector.
Pethias Mwila asked;  “Why are such activities just concentrated in Lusaka?
The real environmental issues which need to be documented are in rural areas, where whatever media disseminates matter less or more to them.”
I am sure ZEMA would be glad to respond to these concerns although Mr Muyunda’s concern is ‘offside’ because there are some schools and companies like the Copperbelt Energy Corporation and GreenPop from Livingstone that were awarded at the same event.
But I still ask for ZEMA’s input in these concerns.
That is all for today and have a blessed week!
ENVIRONMENTAL TIP: Did you know that plants are major producers of oxygen that human beings and animals breathe?
For comments: stanslous.ngosa@times.co.zm ngosastan@gmail.com
www.stanslousngosa.blogspot.com, twitter @ngosastan
+260977694310, +260955694310