Visit to Namibia of Dr. Gunther Bachmann – Executive Secretary of the German Sustainable Development Advisory Council

Members of the SDAC at the Walvis Bay Salt Works
Members of the SDAC at the Walvis Bay Salt Works
Dr. Michael Humavindu, who served as Master of Ceremonies, during the public lecture involving Dr. Bachmann on 7th July 2016
Dr. Michael Humavindu, who served as Master of Ceremonies, during the public lecture involving Dr. Bachmann on 7th July 2016
Members of the SDAC at the Wlotzkasbaken Desalination Plant
Members of the SDAC at the Wlotzkasbaken Desalination Plant
SDAC Deputy Chairperson, Ms. Martha Naanda, who spoke of the Namibian approach to sustainable development during the public lecture on July 7th 2016
SDAC Deputy Chairperson, Ms. Martha Naanda, who spoke of the Namibian approach to sustainable development during the public lecture on July 7th 2016
Dr. Chris Brown makes his point during the public lecture
Dr. Chris Brown makes his point during the public lecture
Prof. Dr. Guenther Bachmann explains the German architecture for sustainable development during the public lecture
Prof. Dr. Guenther Bachmann explains the German architecture for sustainable development during the public lecture

The Executive Secretary of the German Sustainable Development Advisory Council, Prof. Dr. Guenther Bachmann, visited Namibia from 29th June until 8th July 2016. The visit took place as a follow up to the visit of the SD Advisory Council members to Germany in June 2015 and aimed to update each other on developments and to strengthen further partnership and collaboration.

The visit involved a series of meetings and field visits to sites linked to sustainable development at the coast. This included a tour of the Wlotzkasbaken desalination plant and the Walvis Bay Salt Works. Working sessions were also held on Uranium mining in the Erongo Region, the thematic areas and indicators for the second Integrated State of the Environment Report and the ecosystem approach to fisheries management with Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources officials. A dinner was also held with the GIZ Country Director to discuss future collaboration between the two Councils.

Lastly a public lecture was held on the 7th July at the Hilton Hotel. The lecture, held in collaboration with the Environmental Economics Network of Namibia, discussed the approaches to sustainable development in Germany and Namibia as well as possible modalities to implement the sustainable development goals.