Liziwe MCDAID

Bio

Liziwe McDaid Liziwe believes that good environmental practice underpins human survival. It is not a luxury but a necessity. Power, Politics, secrecy and the manner in which our very economic structure operate are leading to our own destruction and in South Africa, we are faced with stark reminders of this everyday life. Trained as a scientist with a BSc from the University of Cape Town, Liz McDaid also has a teachers diploma, adult facilitation qualification and a MSc in Climate Change and Development from the African Climate Development Institute at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She is currently the strategic lead for the Green Connection, campaigning to protect the oceans and those that depend on them, from oil and gas drilling. She also works with various civil society organisations working on sustainable ways to reach energy security for all, and ensure eco-justice underpins decision-making. Liz believes that good governance with meaningful dialogue and participation is the way to ensure a future liveable planet. She took the unlawful nuclear deal between South Africa and Russia to court and won, recently won an oil and gas related court case to ensure community voices be heard in decision-making, and in 2023 forced the South African president to capitulate and take steps towards producing an energy road map for the country. For her effort in the nuclear court case, Liz and fellow activist Makoma Lekalakala received the international Goldman Award in 2018 for their environmental activism.