We have taken several steps to improve the environmental sustainability of the conference.
We appreciate that the biggest negative impact will be air travel to Botswana and have therefore set up an option to offset carbon emissions for delegates attending Link to carbon offset
The conference venue has mixed types of accommodation allowing delegates to stay on site and walk to the meetings. The venue is in a central area of Gaborone ensuring that accommodation is close to the conference venue to limit journey times. We encourage car sharing in taxis and minibuses (combis).
Products used for speaker gifts, delegate packs and available at the venue will be locally produced and sourced from environmentally sustainable sources. There will be no plastic bags at the venue.
There will be no printed abstracts or conference program, these will all be shared electronically.
Since 2021, the Botswana Association of Family Physicians has partnered with Green Botswana (www.greenbotswana.org) to support tree planting in schools and health centers across Botswana.
We have raised funds, physically assisted with tree planting and provided health education talks and screening in villages and communities.
The tree planting in government health facilities was an initiative from the Greater Gaborone District Medical Health Team (DMHT) with Green Botswana partnered with ABSA bank. So far, trees have been planted in 39 clinics in the Greater Gaborone area, Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in Francistown and 100 trees at JP Kavindama Primary Hosptial in Shakawe.
“Planting Positive Health” is an ongoing initiative with Botswana Association of Family Physicians and Green Botswana to assist with regular tree and vegetable garden planting in our committees.
There will be no single use plastic bottles or single use plastic food containers and cutlery used throughout the conference.
Water dispensers will be located around the conference venue for delegates to refill water bottles as often as needed.
Catering will be adjusted according to daily numbers attending to limit food waste during the conference and discussions are in place to look at ways to donate uneaten food in a safe and practical way to the women’s shelter and local children’s homes.
As plant based eating is good for both human and planetary health, options for vegan and vegetarian meals will be provided throughout the conference.
Cattle are an important part of Botswana culture with the cattle raised in a free-range way contributing to high-quality, lean red meat. As part of the celebration of the conference red meat will be served with other options always available.
