Nelize Ernst explores…
Nelize Ernst: Tell us a bit about your background and how you got to live out your passion?
Simon Gear: I am the son of a Geography teacher so Environmental science was always on the cards. But my passion is being the master of my own time that required a degree of guts, opportunity and a certain disdain for authority.
N.E.: You are one of those busy guys! Between writing for Runners World & Khuluma you also PRIMEDIA’s weather guy, presenter of 50/50 and environmental consultant? What relaxes you?
S.G: Reading and running with mates
N.E: You published your first book in March 2009 entitled “Going Green” what challenges did you face while writing the book?
S.G: Books are lovely to have written, but are actually rather hard work to write. No matter which way you cut it, that’s still thousands of words you’ve got to come up with.
N.E: You are currently busy with your second book, on environmental activity in South Africa. Can you tell us more about it?
S.G: It will be similar to Going Green in ethos but focused more on kids or young adults.
N.E: What is South Africa’s main challenge with global warming?
S.G: Our biggest challenge is actually the more immediate impacts that our addiction to coal has on our natural resources, particularly water.
N.E: How do you feel about your day when you wake up in the morning?
S.G: I’m always pretty enthusiastic.
N.E: What the coolest things you get to do as an environmental consultant?
S.G: Consultancy can be pretty dry. My clients are usually coal mines or similar although I did once do an analysis of waste processes in southern Kruger which was quite cool. But the media side of things allows me to do some really nice stuff. I’d guess that my favourite is probably hanging out in the 702 newsroom.
N.E: What is your best achievement so far? (Either Personal or Business)
S.G: Undoubtedly getting to 10 years of marriage more good than bad, and generally being in control of my own time.
N.E: Seems like Air quality is your speciality? What exactly does that involve?
S.G: It’s generally modelling expected emissions for emissions licence or EIA applications.
N.E: What other projects do you enjoy working on?
S.G: I’ve currently got two real goodies underway: Helping companies go carbon neutral with the aid of Green Energy Certificates and developing a green tool for listed companies to self assess their environmental footprint. Both of those are through a company called Kijani Green energy.
N.E: Describe a typical day in the life of “Simon”
S.G: My alarm goes at 4:30. I meet a mate for a run at 5. Into the office for radio crossings at 6. Then getting the kids ready for school before spending the rest of the day either in my home office or out at clients. I’m usually in bed by 9.
N.E: There are so many eco friendly products on the market? Tell us what are the coolest green gadgets out there for guys?
S.G: I like the home stuff. Solar geysers, grey water systems and energy monitors.
N.E: What is the hardest part of what you do?
S.G: Writing. I don’t know why because it’s probably where I am most ambitious but I find writing more than one column a day incredibly strenuous. There aren’t any short cuts to writing well.
N.E: What is the best part of what you do?
S.G: Being the master of my own time. I love working from my own office with no distractions other than the odd cat or child wandering in to say hi.
N.E: You are quite the runner too! When is your next two oceans or comrades marathon again? How do you motivate yourself during the race? Any cool “green” gadgets for runners?
S.G: I’m down for Oceans and Comrades next year, Running is very minimalist. No real need for any gadgets at all. In that sense it is the greenest of all sports.
N.E: What advice would you give to anyone you would like to become a Climatologist?
S.G: Study under one of the top research centres – Wits or UCT come immediately to mind. The advantage of UCT is they have a good oceanography component which would have been my first love if I had been down there.
N.E: What’s the most important thing you learned so far in your career?
S.G: Never, ever sign surety for someone else. Never ever ever.
N.E: What are your plans for the next 5-10 years?
S.G: More of the same, hopefully, only more so. I’m very happy where I am now.
N.E: What advice would you give to the Youth of South Africa on green issues and global warming?
S.G: This is a huge empowerment opportunity for all of us. Looking at ways to develop and grow our businesses while protecting and improving the environment is a real growth industry and we need young scientists desperately.
Visit: www.sdgconsulting.co.za or email Simon Gear at: info@sdgconsulting.co.za
