PRESENTER BACKGROUND • Nicholas N. Kimani, Chandaria School of • Business, United States International University, • Nairobi, Kenya. • PhD: Environmental Governance, Australian National University (2008) • Post-Doc Research: Climate Change Governance, University of Cape Town (2009) TOPIC OF PRESENTATION: • ‘Green-Conferencing’ Promotion in Kenya: • Towards an Enabling Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework My Focus In This Presentation: Policy, Legal & Institutional Issues: • I focus on these issues by reference to the following question as follows: • HOW CAN KENYA BECOME AFRICA’S LEADING DESTINATION FOR ‘GREEN’ CONFERENCING/ BUSINESS TOURISM? BODY OF PRESENTATION 1. Setting the Scene: – Concepts & Contexts – Why green-conferencing Kenya matters for • (2) How have our competitors in Africa succeeded? • (3) Lessons-learnt and way forward for Kenya Setting the Scene: Concepts & Contexts (1/3) • Sustainability: 1. It matters: Sustainability is top of the agenda for international event planners, ranking alongside bed stock availability & flight availability into a destination. 2. It presents business and societal opportunities: From a strategic perspective, contributing to environmental conservation provides opportunities to: – Drive brand value, achieve long-term growth and increase profits; – Identify smarter ways to do more with less; Setting the Scene: Concepts & Contexts (2/3) • A "green" conference is: Conference where a conscious effort is made during planning sessions to ensure that: 1. Amount of waste generated is kept to a minimum; 2. Items used during the course of the meeting are of recycled content; and 3. The waste generated is recycled or reused to the maximum extent possible. Setting the Scene: Concepts & Contexts (3/3) • The meetings industry • Very competitive and dynamic due to the many emerging conferencing destinations & changes in technology; • Although Kenya has a very-appreciated culture of having warm customer friendly people with impeccable quality in hospitality service delivery, we need to do more for Business/Conference tourism. Why Green Conferencing Matters for Kenya – Kenya’s official (ICCA) 2009 ranking: Africa's 4th best performing Convention Centers—after South Africa (90); Egypt (32); Morocco (28); and then Kenya (19). Also Kenya was ranked at position 60 up from 623 in 2008; –Kenya’s tourism sector earnings: These rose by 32.9% to Sh. 98b in 2011. Potential therefore exists for further growth notwithstanding challenges e.g. travel advisories Why Green Conferencing Matters for Kenya –Improving Kenya’s ranking would increase opportunities to: 1.Win new sales and to consolidate existing business; 2.Enhance the multiplier effect to Kenya’s economy e.g. jobs creation (e.g. local farmers), building linkages with industry (e.g.airlines, forex bureaus, transport, hotels) & the grassroots (communities) Issues for Consideration • Becoming Africa's preferred 'green' conference destination would require careful and thoughtful planning. • "Green meetings do not just happen.” • The key question: How have our competitors in Africa succeeded? The key question: How have our competitors succeeded? … • Case studies: 1. Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) & • • 2. Durban International Conference Center (ICC) • (Both have among the most highly advanced conference facilities in the world. But that is not my focus at this juncture) • Our Focus a) How their sustainability programmes have reduced environmental impacts of conferences hosted: energy, water & waste; b) What lessons we can learn: Policy, Legal & Institutional CTICC Environmental Initiatives(1/3) • CTICC’s commitment to environmental excellence through its Nurture Our World (NOW) initiative: • My Tree in Africa: Reducing carbon footprint left by meetings and events by assisting conference delegates purchasing trees, which are planted in disadvantaged communities in Cape Town; • Global Green Alliance: CTICC + Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) + Arena and Convention Centre (Liverpool)– formed a Global Green Alliance to encourage industry best practice for hosting sustainable events globally; CTICC Environmental Initiatives (2/3) • United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Member – CTICC is the first convention centre in Africa to become a signatory to the UN Global Compact– a strategic policy commitment for businesses to align their operations and strategies with internationally accepted principles in human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; • ISO 14000 (Environmental Management)– CTICC boasts ISO 14000 certification. Many local organisations, e.g. KICC already familiar with the processes involved in establishing world class management systems—ISO 9000. • NOW Supplier Accreditation –‘Green’ criteria that suppliers can strive to meet; Environmental Initiatives of CTICC (3/3) • • • Green Living Training - CTICC, in conjunction with the City of Cape Town offers its staff comprehensive ‘green living’ training, aimed at encouraging environmental awareness and ‘green’ practices both in the workplace and at home; Enhancing energy efficiency, water efficiency and waste minimisation –e.g. encouraging reducing, re-using and recycling. A significant part of CTICC’s business strategy focuses on these sustainable initiatives. ICC Environmental Initiatives(1/3) • Exceptional Environmental Management and Safety Systems: ISO14001; ISO9001, ISO22000 (food safety) & OHSAS18001 certifications; • Building on-site food production: ICC grows its own culinary herbs for use in its kitchen used in conferences; • World class high tech green building: focus on natural lighting, energy efficient light fittings and air conditioning systems, & indigenous landscaping. ICC Environmental Initiatives(2/3) • Dedicated to waste reduction and recycling: focus on minimising waste at source--reducing the supply of bottled water for events and functions, favouring tap water filled jugs and water dispensers. • Stringent Targets: Waste separation policy During the first half of 2011, 50%+ of the waste generated was recycled.) & Energy efficiency (7% of current total demand through solar powered LED street lighting. ICC Environmental Initiatives(3/3) • Showcasing Environmental and Cultural Icons: The immediate surrounds of the ICC building boast a number of cultural heritage icons: Life-size White Rhino Bronze Statue; Baobab Trees; and Human Rights Commemorations THE WAY FORWARD: Policy Issues (1/1) • We need a National Ecotourism Strategy to include guidelines for developing Business Tourism and Conferencing in Kenya. • Requires Multi-stakeholder buy-in from entire industry (EK, Min. of Tourism, KTB, Kenya Tourism Federation and other sister tourism associations including KATO, KAHC, KATA, PERAK, KAAO and MCTO); • Challenge: Agreeing on common guidelines for specific roles (e.g. waste/ energy reduction) or recycling) & specific responsibilities (e.g. Venues, conference organisers—carbon offsets) THE WAY FORWARD: Legal Issues (1/2) 1. Has the time come for binding legal guidelines? If so: – Should we advocate widening the scope of the existing Eco-rating guidelines (voluntary in nature)? – Should we push for compulsory ‘Green-Star’ Rating e.g. through NEMA? THE WAY FORWARD: Legal Issues (2/2) • 2. If we opt for binding legal guidelines, further issues: a) Should they reward leaders, and if so how? b) Should they penalize laggards, and if so how? c) What is the current international best practice? E.g. is industry-led self-regulation better than Government oversight? THE WAY FORWARD: Institutional Issues (1/2) • Entails a focus on Individual Stakeholders (Venues & Service Providers). Some pertinent questions: 1. Do we have a credible environmental policy? If not, why? 2. Have we identified areas for cost savings in our operations? Energy, Recycling, Reusing, Premise Management 3. Do we have any evidence for the business case for green business tourism/ conferencing e.g. feedback from guests In Conclusion • For Green Conferencing/ Business Tourism to become standard practice in Kenya, we must: – RETHINK the way we presently operate as an entire industry; – REFUSE to implement practices in our office or conference environment that are harmful to the environment; – COMMIT to detailed planning and organisation. THANK YOU! • END OF PRESENTATION