02 Oct 2024

The second edition of the annual Transport and Energy Summit and Expo is scheduled to be held at Boipuso Hall, Gaborone on October 8-9.

Briefing the media in Gaborone recently, the organsier, Mr Mmoloki Mmolotsi of Progressive Institute, said the event was aimed at creating a greater and sustainable future for Botswana.

He said the event was designed to address critical issues relating to transport and energy ensuring that it fostered sustainable economic growth.

He said it would bring together key stakeholders, policy makers, experts and the civil society to engage in meaningful discussions and find solutions that support Botswana’s development goals.

Mr Mmolotsi said the event would be held under the theme: Energising Progress, Advancing Transport and Energy Solutions for Botswana’s Growth.

He said the summit would focus on integrated solutions to challenges in the transport and energy sectors, explore innovative and sustainable transport and energy solutions that could enhance economic development, while addressing environmental concerns.

Mr Mmolotsi said the event would also focus on collaboration to ensure that there were economic partnerships between government, private entities and international organisations to create a cohesive approach to transport and energy management.

In terms of policy development, Mr Mmolotsi said the summit must contribute towards the review of existing policies and propose enhancements to facilitate the growth of sustainable transport and energy in the country.

He said the summit would also bring together key stakeholders in the concerned sectors and contribute immensely to research and innovation by showcasing latest research and advancement in technology as well as highlighting best practices around the globe.

Mr Mmolotsi said the summit promised to be a significant event in shaping the future of the country and energy landscape.

“We want to leverage on collaboration, innovation and sustainable practice.

This summit ensures to position Botswana as a leader in this vital sectors, ultimately contributing to the national vision objectives,” he said

He said the focus was to create an event that would play a strategic role in the region. Mr Mmolotsi said in recent years, transformative trends in sustainable transport emerged, shaping the global landscape such as electric vehicles, which were becoming increasingly popular, with such countries as Norway at the forefront.

As of 2023, Mr Mmolotsi said nearly 80 per cent of new cars sold in Norway were powered by electricity, showing the potential for a cleaner transport future. He said the transition did not only reduce greenhouse emissions, but also reduced reliance on fossil fuel.

He said the public transport system worldwide was revolutionising movement of people, adding that cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen were models of sustainable advent mobility with extensive cycling networks and integrated public transporting systems prioritising accessibility and environmental sustainability.

“These cities exemplify how investing in sustainable transport can enhance urban life, reduce traffic congestion and lower pollution levels.”

In terms of energy, Mr Mmolotsi said the shift towards renewable resources had been more pronounced.

He said such countries as Germany and Costa Rica were leading by example, adding that through its energy policy, Germany was aiming at transitioning the country toward a sustainable energy system with investments in wind and solar.

He said Cost Rica was operating on more than 99 per cent of renewable energy in the past years, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to energy production.

He the country was focusing its vision and hope on transitioning towards adopting innovative solutions in energy production.

As it was the case with Rwanda, Mr Mmolotsi said Botswana could be a model on transformation by adopting such initiatives.

He said the summit was part of larger conversations happening globally, as events such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the International Transport Forum Summit and the World

Renewable Energy Conference were serving as platforms where stakeholders and legal experts from various sectors gathered to share knowledge, strategies and innovative solutions.

He said such global dialogues emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development.

As such, he said the summit was not happening in isolation as it was part of the global effort.

Mr Mmolotsi said the summit was aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the ones speaking to affordable and clean energy and the one for sustainable cities and communities.

He said the aim was to enhance a prosperous and equitable society through sustainable development.

Mr Mmolotsi said Botswana was uniquely positioned to leverage on its abundant natural resources such as sunlight to spearhead advancement in renewable energy, adding that the government’s commitment to investing in renewable sector was crucial to meeting climate change obligations and job creation.

By diversifying its energy sources, Mr Mmolotsi said the country was stimulating economic growth and development.

He said the transport sector equally played a role in transformation. Therefore, he said the opening of Kazungula Bridge represented a significant step in improving regional connectivity and trade, ushering in a new era of mobility for the country.

“We must continue to explore more innovative solutions such as electric public transportations systems to reduce carbon footprint and enhance urban migration.

Together we will explore innovative solutions to ensure that our transport and energy systems were resilient, efficient and inclusive.

Together we must drive the change we want to see in Botswana,” he said in conclusion. Ends