I extend a heartfelt welcome to every one of you who has gathered here today in support of Step Up 2 A Green Start Up. Your presence is a testament to your unwavering commitment to fostering a greener future and empowering our youth. Let us acknowledge and celebrate the collective effort that has brought us to this pivotal moment and made Step Up possible.
The world is burning. Our oceans are rising. Biodiversity is collapsing. These are not distant threats; they are our reality. The World Economic Forum has unequivocally declared climate action failure as the greatest risk of our time. This is a wake-up call. It is a demand for radical change. Yet, within this crisis lies an unprecedented opportunity—a chance to redefine our economy, our society, and our very existence.
At the UN Climate Change conference COP29, which will take place later this year in Azerbaijan, a key point will be countries’ progress in keeping the world at a 1.5C temperature increase. COP29 looks to promote discussions around what can be done to achieve global goals of reducing climate change. It will look at how countries can be supported to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as part of mitigating climate change.
President Ramaphosa’s signing of the Climate Change Bill marks a significant stride towards a greener South Africa. The new legislation deals with, among other things, South Africa’s ability and capacity to over time reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resilience, while minimising the risk of job losses and promoting opportunities for new jobs. It is a mandate for us all to translate lofty ambitions into tangible results. Furthermore, the National Small Enterprise Amendment Bill has been signed into law. The Act raises the hope of struggling entrepreneurs and SMME owners who are counting on it to improve the ecosystem, streamline bureaucracy, minimise duplication and enhance the delivery of services to SA’s estimated 2.6 million SMME’s, most of which are informal. Let us seize this moment to harness the power of these laws and drive urgent, transformative change.
Sustainability is an inherent part of traditional African societies. Our ancestors lived in harmony with nature. They possessed an innate wisdom that we have in many ways forgotten. It is time to rediscover these ancient principles and integrate them into our modern world. These are certainly practices to which we should return. As Wangari Maathai Kenyan political activist profoundly stated, “We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and, in the process, heal our own.”
SA has the potential to create up to 275 000 green jobs by 2030, with the bulk of these jobs likely to come from the energy, power production and the agriculture sectors. This will open avenues to entrepreneurs who want to take advantage of all this sector has to offer.
Let us inspire a generation of green entrepreneurs. Let us cultivate a nation where sustainability is not a buzzword but a way of life. Let us build a future where our children and grandchildren can thrive in a clean, healthy, prosperous, and equitable world. As an Old Greek proverb tells us, ‘A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they will never see’.
For Business, Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) is no longer a luxury; it has become an imperative. The program we are launching today, Step Up 2 A Green Start Up, is a bold response to twin crises: climate change and unemployment. By nurturing green entrepreneurs, we are not just building businesses; we are forging a sustainable future for South Africa.
Entrepreneurship is about identifying, creating, and capturing value in areas not seen by others. It is a call to action, a beacon of hope, a catalyst for change, an incubator for innovation and creativity. Tomorrow’s entrepreneurs can start from a low base and still succeed against all odds. Only then can they alleviate poverty and generate sustained economic growth. It is small actions today that lead to monumental impact tomorrow.
To develop these entrepreneurs and reduce our high unemployment rate, our youth must, at an early stage, be provided with the right tools, skills, and inspiration that will enable them to build businesses, and become gainful employers in a circular, restorative, inclusive, and clean economy.
Whilst most entrepreneurship programmes target post -matric youth, our ground-breaking initiative aims to inspire a culture of entrepreneurship and wealth creation early in the career development process, by taking it to high school in urban, peri-urban, township and more recently, rural communities.
For a decade, Step Up 2 A Start-Up has ignited the entrepreneurial spark in over 100,000 young minds across South Africa. We have transformed classrooms into launchpads, empowering students with the knowledge and tools to tackle unemployment and our planet’s most pressing challenges.
Our unique blend of education and entertainment has captured imaginations and inspired action. Through gripping films, practical handbooks, and high-stakes competitions, we have cultivated a generation of young innovators who see problems as opportunities.
In practice, the programme harnesses the enthusiasm and energy of young people to:
• Move from a fixed mindset (job seeker) to a growth mindset (job creator).
• View environmental challenges as new business opportunities.
• Shift from making disposable products to producing reusable goods.
• Utilize technology to enable their green businesses.
• Rent, share, or leverage assets as opposed to owning them, thereby unlocking resources, reducing waste, and limiting emissions.
• Communicate, think critically, creatively and solve problems imaginatively.
• Develop resilience to face difficulties.
• Co-create collaboratively within teams.
• Promote biosphere consciousness.
• Prioritize people and planet over profit alone.
• And do more and better with less whilst delivering value to customers and their communities.
Our Lean Startup curriculum is more than a business plan blueprint; it is a catalyst for transformative change. By cultivating a growth mindset and fostering a culture of experimentation, we equip students to become innovative, resilient, and socially conscious entrepreneurs. From the classroom to the boardroom, we are shaping a new generation of leaders who prioritize people and planet alongside profit. These graduates are poised to build sustainable businesses that address South Africa’s most pressing challenges and drive a more equitable future thereby unlocking a triple bottom line: economic growth, environmental protection, and social upliftment.
Our #StepUpAlumni are living proof of this potential. From Brian Mulambo, Anna Machaka and Lebogang Maluka, their stories inspire us all. They are the pioneers of a new era, where business success is measured not just by profit but by impact.
The future of our nation rests in the hands of our young people. Step Up 2 A Green Start-Up is more than a program; it is a catalyst for change. It is a beacon of hope, illuminating a path to a sustainable and prosperous South Africa. Let us unite behind these young entrepreneurs, empowering them to be the architects of our green economy. Together, we can build a legacy of innovation, resilience, and environmental stewardship that will inspire generations to come.
To our 2024 participants- our innovators, dreamers, makers and leaders – the builders of new technologies and the breakers of old limitations. Your ideas matter. Your dreams are valid. And we believe in your potential to succeed. Your passion and solutions will earn your place as part of the Planet Earth’s Support Crew.
Ten years of Step Up 2 A Start-Up is just the beginning. We are expanding our horizons, deepening our impact, and igniting a nationwide entrepreneurial movement. With your support, we will create a future where every young person has the chance to thrive. Let us scale up, reach further, and inspire more. Together, we will write the next bold chapter in South Africa’s green success story.
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors as we take this spectacular programme to new heights. You are the architects of a better tomorrow, starting the fires of enterprise, igniting new businesses glowing with entrepreneurial passion and purpose, resulting in a low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive planet.
