Climate Change Leadership Awards – Carbon Neutral
                       
In March this year, organisations, individuals, schools and youth group climate change leaders and heroes were generously applauded and rewarded at the second annual Climate Change Leadership Awards (CCLA). The awards ceremony was rendered carbon neutral through the planting of 270 trees in Naledi, Soweto, to offset the emmissions generated from the event.

Naledi was established in 1996 to accommodate the Sotho speaking people of Soweto and this settlement has grown to 73 625 houses, that include the RDP houses built since 1996. These new houses are next to the train station and cater for low income people and pensioners.  There are no trees, limited recreational space and the area is dusty. These trees will help to settle the dust and improve the health of the environment and the residents.

The 270 CCLA offset trees contribute to the United Nations Development Programme Billion Tree Campaign. The planting of these trees in Naledi, is an indication of how many can work together to address climate change. As Dr Kumi Naidoo, the Executive Director of Greenpeace International and Board Director of FTFA,  who was the guest speaker at the Awards ceremony said, “we do not have a Planet B”, so we have to look after the planet we have today.

The trees were distributed to the community of Naledi in Soweto at the Sports Complex Centre, 749 Letsatsi Radebe Street, Naledi, Soweto on 5 May 2011.