#RICSAfrica: RICS signs MoU with Green Building Council SA at RICS Summit Africa

admin May 31, 2018May 31, 2018 #RICSAfrica, Attacq, Broll, Climate Change, Colliers International, Commercial property, Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate, Dorah Modise, GBCSA, Green Building, Green Building Council SA, International Facilities Management Association, Rics, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Sandton central, Sustainabilty, TC Chetty

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Green Building Council SA (GBCSA) at the start of RICS Summit Africa 2018, which kicked off in Sandton Central, Johannesburg, yesterday.

As smart urbanism and sustainability is the overall theme at this year’s summit, the MoU represents a commitment by both organisations to work closer together in promoting sustainable development in the built environment arena in Africa. With rapid urbanisation in Africa and challenges around climate change, green building and developing more sustainable cities has gained momentum and more significance.

“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,” says TC Chetty, South Africa country manager for RICS.

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.”

GBCSA is also a key participant and sponsor of the RICS Summit Africa 2018. Major commercial sponsors of the summit include Broll Property Group, Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate, Colliers International and Attacq Limited. The International Facilities Management Association is also a supporter of the summit again this year.

This is the fourth edition of RICS Summit Africa, which brings together leading speakers and professionals in the built environment sphere from business, government, academia and the NGO sector. Currently underway at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton Central, the summit ends today. The two-day annual event has attracted more than 220 delegates this year, entrenching itself as one of the main events on the global RICS calendar.

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.”

London-based RICS is a globally recognised professional organisation that marks its milestone 150th Anniversary this year. RICS promotes and enforces the highest qualifications and standards in the areas of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. As a public benefit organisation, RICS operates in all the world’s major financial hubs in delivering international standards and policy influence.

The GBCSA was established in 2007 with the purpose to inspire a built environment in which people and planet thrive. The council is made up of a dedicated team, working in collaboration with industry bodies, leaders, government departments and professionals to develop market-based green building solutions for the transformation of the South African property industry. The GBCSA is a member-based organisation whose core focus is green building certification and training. It advocates for all buildings to be designed, built and operated in an environmentally sustainable manner.