European Union Ambassador to Botswana and SADC Petra Pereyra on Botswana Television

European Union Ambassador to Botswana and SADC Petra Pereyra and intersectional environmentalist Tinaye Mabara were on Botswana Television (BTV) this afternoon to discuss green transformation, and inclusion of local communities in conservation efforts and the role of the youth in tackling climate change and in support of green transformation.

Green transformation is one of the two priorities of the EU’s partnership with Botswana for the period between 2021 and 2027. The EU is currently supporting ecotourism development and the beef value chain in Botswana as part of the programmes supporting trade, job creation and the investment climate in Botswana. With the aim to open up more opportunities for decent, green jobs and more revenue generation options while preserving the Botswana model of managing resources in a sustainable way.

“In the past year, I have visited the North of the country several times and I have met with local communities, including farmers, who have great stories to tell about how they can benefit from nature conservation, in particular by developing the eco-tourism sector or the beef value chain which the EU is already supporting. Other examples include EU funded projects supporting traditional basketry, glass recycling, or locally produced craft beer. The EU also supports mobile quarantines for cattle, solutions to protect cattle against predators or farms and crops against elephant raids”, said EU Ambassador Pereyra. The Ambassador also shared that the EU residence is solar powered and that she regularly cycles to work, as everyday commitments start at the individual level, no matter how small they are. For her part, Tinaye Mabara advocated for youth centric programmes and messaging when it comes to issues of climate change and calls to action. Saying that the youth need to be actively involved in ways that speak to them, giving an example of using social media such as TikTok to invite them to Kgotla meetings on environmental issues.