The Gautrain Management Agency in partnership with the City of Tshwane, marked International Earth Day at Ditshego House of Laughter in Centurion.
- Observed annually on April 22, Earth Day is a reminder to not lose sight of the urgency of climate change amid other pressing global issues.
- The theme for Earth Day 2023 was “Invest in Our Planet”.
- Every one of us can help limit global warming and protect our planet.
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The day’s activities included planting trees, working on the vegetable garden and donating seedlings and the Gautrain children’s book on climate change Yolisa’s Mighty Mission.
Speakers at the event included the MEC for Transport and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, the MMC for Environment and Agriculture, Cllr Ziyanda Zwane, and Gautrain Management Agency Acting CEO, Tshepo Kgobe.
The Gautrain Management Agency has an Employee Corporate Social Investment Programme that enables staff to extend their time and professional skills to benefit communities and beneficiaries that the Agency supports.
According to the United Nations, human-induced climate change is the largest, most pervasive threat to the natural environment and societies the world has ever experienced, and the poorest countries are paying the heaviest price.
Individual actions on climate change count and we can all be part of the solution and influence change. Choosing to use a public transport system such as the Gautrain, for example, can assist in reducing traffic congestion and pollution. An average single trip on the Gautrain saves 2,8 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) per passenger trip when compared to a private car.
// Gautrain Management Agency Acting CEO, Tshepo Kgobe
Key Facts about the Gautrain:
- The Gautrain trains have saved around 360’000 tonnes of carbon dioxide pollution since they started operating in June 2010.
- Each Gautrain commuter saves 120kg of CO2 emissions every month.
- A commuter who uses the Gautrain every working day to and from work between Johannesburg and Tshwane saves around seven hours and
- R1’300 in petrol and car-maintenance costs a month, compared with those who drive themselves.
The United Nations 2022 Sustainable Development Goals Report highlighted that between 2015 and 2030, annual passenger traffic globally is projected to increase by 50 per cent, and the number of cars on the road is likely to double.
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