About PASA
The Publishers’ Association of South Africa (PASA) was established in 1994 when a decision to form an industry body aligned with the new democratic dispensation was adopted. PASA is the largest publishing industry body in South Africa with more than 127 members. It represents book and journal publishers in South Africa. PASA’s membership comprises the majority of South African publishing houses, large and small, for-profit and non-profit, educational, trade, self-improvement, leisure, national literature, and tertiary scientific and social science education. PASA promotes the contribution of literature in all its forms to cultural, social, and economic development. For more details, see here.
Why did you sign the SDG Publishers Compact ?
“The PASA Sustainability Sub Committee has been encouraging publishers to sign up to the SDG Publishers Compact. Firstly, this is a clear sign of an organisation’s commitment to the achievement of the SDGs and secondly, for anyone new to this, by signing up to the SDG Publishers Compact, you gain access to tools and knowledge that can help you to start measuring and reducing your own carbon emissions. PASA itself signed up in order to set an example.”
What is the situation like among publishers in South Africa. How engaged are they with the SDGs?
“Publishers are quite engaged with the SDGs. The PASA Sustainability Sub Committee approached a few of the larger publishers last year to ask for their support with signing up to the SDG Compact and to send employees for Carbon Literacy training. Both of these initiatives received positive responses.”
What kind of activities are already underway at PASA and what do you have planned?
“The PASA Sustainability Sub Committee was formed two years ago. Activities to date include setting up a sustainability corner on the PASA website where information can be shared and providing information and updates at the six monthly PASA AGMs. Two of the larger publishers will be sharing their experiences in sourcing sustainable paper at the February AGM. And at the August AGM members will be provided with more information about how to measure and calculate carbon emissions. New members joined the PASA Sustainability Sub-Committee late last year and one of the briefs is to keep members abreast of any changes in legislation. The Sub Committee is also planning to use one of the smaller publishers to become a case study for the measurement of carbon emissions and to work on a proposal to secure funding to enable more PASA members to go on carbon literacy training later this year.”
Do you have any messages for publishers or publishers’ association who are considering signing the compact?
“Publishers or associations who are considering signing the SDG compact should ensure that there is consensus in their ranks to commit to the compact. Furthermore, they must take it one step at a time and have patience.”