In this course the TSD-section works together with its international partners, the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation in Enschede (ITC) and UNEP Risoe from Denmark. The course, taking place from March 5 - April 5 at the ITC, deals with the public and private sectors' involvement in energy, environmental and climate change projects.
Sixteen course participants from ten different countries are here in Enschede studying causes and effects of climate change, current international policy concerning climate change, possible solutions to combat climate change, funding regulations related to CDM, project formulation for CDM projects, calculating possible CO2 savings of a project and general aspects of proposal writing.
One participant, Mr. Henagge Sunil Somathilaka, is visiting the UT for the second time. Somathilaka lives in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka where he works as a chief engineer for the Ceylon Electricity Board in Sri Lanka. His research interests are related to energy and water, which he carries out in cooperation with the International Water Management Institution in Sri Lanka.
Somathilaka talks about his work experience, `In 2001 I participated in the short course on `Energy Management and Cleaner Production in Small and Medium Scale Industries.' With the knowledge I gained during the course, I was able to set up a quality standard within the Ceylon Electricity Board. My employer is the first government institution in Sri Lanka to have quality standards certified with the International Organization of Standards, with ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 9001 (quality management of a system such that it meets applicable regulatory requirements).
Somathilaka is particularly interested in this course because within the Ceylon Electricity Board, at the Samanalawewa Power Station where he works there are many opportunities for CDM projects like mini hydro projects, water diversion to the Samanalawewa reservoir, reduction of irrigation releases from the dam and water shed management projects.
Another course participant, Ms. Robinah Nanyunja, is a project supervisor for `Pilot International' and `Save our Planet Earth' in Kampala, Uganda. She is visiting the Netherlands for the first time ever, leaving behind her two-year-old son to participate in TSD's short course.
Nanyunja explains why she is here: `My goal is to improve my skills in proposal writing, especially for fundable CDM proposals. I hope to improve the contribution of my organization to sustainable development and in the field of environment, energy and climate change in Uganda. The training course is necessary because there are still very few countries that attempt CDM projects. Potential investors for these kinds of projects are hard to find. When I return to Uganda I intend to train my research assistants and community development officers so they can improve their skills in proposal writing as well.'
Both participants are impressed by the amount attention given to energy management and the environment in the Netherlands. Nanyunja describes the situation in Uganda, `At the moment it seems that only the people who studied the environment care about it. However, it is becoming more important in our country. A positive development is that our children learn to be more conservative towards the environment at school.' Somathilaka justifies the relative lack of attention shown in Sri Lanka, `In developing countries there is more attention for economical and political issues. In underdeveloped countries we still have to deal with corruption, hunger and poverty. People who have to cope with these issues survive by the day; they cannot afford to use their energy to think about the future.'
Until the day comes that caring for the environment is no longer a luxury for developing countries, courses like the one offered by ITC and UT must suffice to help specialists resolve environment-related issues in their countries.
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| Pictured are short course participants hailing from India, Indonesia, Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda, Sri Lanka, China, Colombia, Tanzania and Kenya. Among those represented are Mr. Somathilaka (front row on the stairs, fourth from the top), Ms. Nanyunja (standing below in the back, fourth from the left), and the course director Joy Clancy (front row on the stairs, second from the top). (Foto: Arjan Reef) |
