The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the Green Building Council of South Africa during the start of the RICS Summit Africa 2018 in Sandton Central on the 30th of May.
The Memorandum of Understanding represents a commitment (by both organisations) to work closely together, in promoting sustainable development in Africa’s built environment arena.
Green building and developing more sustainable cities has gained traction and more significance with Africa’s rapid urbanisation and the challenges around climate change.
Comments TC Chetty, South Africa country manager for RICS:
“It is great to sign this MoU with the GBCSA as it represents yet another important partnership for RICS on the continent. Green building and sustainability has become an important part of the built environment sector globally. Both RICS and the GBCSA are important players in this space, so working together makes sense.”
Dorah Modise, chief executive of the GBCSA says: “Signing this MoU with RICS is of significance to the GBCSA as we see sustainability in the built environment sector as a joint initiative. RICS is a global industry organisation and collaboration is crucial if we want to achieve greater strides in sustainability.”
Speaking at the opening gala dinner of RICS Summit Africa last night, RICS President, John Hughes (FRICS), said Africa was a continent of huge opportunities, boosted by its young population and immense natural resources. However, he said rapid urbanisation in Africa to cities and climate change presented major challenges:
“RICS can contribute to addressing some of these challenges … Collaboration is key, as we partner with organisations in Africa to contribute to the development of the built environment sector, and to smarter cities and sustainability. We signed a collaboration agreement with the GBCSA at the RICS Summit, which is part of our committed to Africa.”
