The ICC has a strong environmental vision and policy, and has recently obtained its ISO14001 certification. It will add this to its existing ISO9001, ISO22000 and OHSAS18001 certifications.

The ICC building is a world class, high tech design which has incorporated green elements such as large glass facades for natural lighting, energy efficient light fittings and air conditioning systems, and indigenous landscaping. The ICC’s gardens are populated predominantly with locally indigenous plant species, which results in limited need for landscape irrigation. The ICC’s water use profile is low for a building of its size, and it is currently rolling out upgrades to its ablutions which include sensor taps for hand washing.

The ICC grows its own culinary herbs for use in its kitchen, which serves the majority of catering needs at the ICC. This initiative will be expanded in the near future to include a wider variety of herbs, as well as vegetables.

The ICC focuses on minimising waste at source. Key interventions have included reducing the supply of bottled water for events and functions, favouring tap water filled jugs and water dispensers. This is made possible by the excellent quality for Durban’s tap water, which is completely safe and tasty to drink.

The ICC has a stringent waste separation policy which aims to achieve the maximum possible volume of waste being sent for recycling. During the first half of 2011, more than 50% of the waste generated at the ICC and DEC was recycled.

The ICC and DEC buildings have recently undergone an energy efficiency retrofit, which includes the latest in lighting technology. This retrofit is anticipated to reduce the energy requirements of the complex by approximately 7% of the current total demand.

Through a recent partnership project between the eThekwini Municipality, Philips Lighting Southern Africa, and Eskom, one hundred and fifty five (155) street lights in the ICC precinct have been retrofitted with energy efficient Iridium LED street lights. In addition, four of the major road intersections around the ICC have been fitted with solar traffic lighting. The total energy savings from these interventions is expected to be in the order of 68.6 MWh per annum.

Adjacent to the main entrance of the ICC stands a life-size bronze statue of a White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum). The White Rhino is an icon of conservation, as the species is one of a few in world which has been saved from extinction. The main threat to this species has been, and still is, poaching and killing of these animals for their horns, which are used in traditional remedies in parts of Africa and Asia.

It was primarily through the dedicated work of the KwaZulu-Natal Parks Board (now called Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife) and its affiliated KZN Conservation Trust, that this species was shifted back from the brink of extinction in the 1980’s and ‘90’s. This incredible achievement raised the hopes and spurred on the work of other conservation bodies towards saving other species of South Africa's wildlife facing similar threats. These successful conservation efforts have established one of the greatest wildlife industries the world has ever seen and has firmly established South Africa's global reputation as a world leader in biodiversity conservation.

This achievement was also the reason why the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) held the 5th World Parks Congress at the ICC in Durban in 2003. The choice of Durban as a venue was a tribute to both the conservation success in the province and in South Africa. The white rhino is the living symbol of that success.

The KZN Conservation Trust, an independent fund-raising organization tasked with supporting conservation through raising funds from the private sector, undertook to raise the funds to have the statue cast in bronze so that it can be a permanent tribute from the people of South Africa to the success of the country's proud conservation record.

"The concept first arose during the preparations for the World Parks Congress in 2003,” adds Dr Hughes, former CEO of the KZN Conservation Trust. “I thought it would be a good idea to have a permanent bronze outside the ICC. The bronze would represent what conservation has achieved in terms of promoting economic growth in South Africa and an aesthetic appreciation of our fauna and flora. It does not celebrate individuals or organizations because the effort has been so widespread and the achievements to great that no one individual can or should take credit."

R1 million was raised through public subscription and renowned sculptor Dylan Lewis created the life-size statue. On March 15 the rhino set out on its journey from the foundry in Stellenbosch to Durban for a two-day trip, passing through the towns of Paarl, Worcester, Beaufort West, Colesberg, Bloemfontein and Bethlehem before joining the N3 on its final leg to the ICC in Durban. It arrived in Durban on March 17, to a special welcoming ceremony.

The rhino is installed on a plinth with the following inscription: "The White Rhinoceros" This dramatic and powerful animal is a symbol of the contribution made to SOUTH AFRICA by BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION the endeavours of which have led to the RESTORATION OF OUR WILDLIFE HERITAGE and A MASSIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF SOUTH AFRICA. It also celebrates the holding of the Fifth World Parks Congress ICC Durban, September 2003. Commissioned by THE CONSERVATION TRUST".

The three Baobab trees in the gardens at the front entrance of the ICC are indigenous to South Africa but are not locally indigenous to Durban. These were planted as feature trees and were brought in from Louis Trichardt in the Northern Province during the construction of the building, and now represent some of the most southern living Baobabs in Africa. The coffee bar on the mezzanine terrace of the ICC is named the Baobab Coffee Terrace. These trees symbolize the strength that lies in the different cultural groups in the province.

At the south western end of the ICC building one can find the Human Rights Walls, which were originally part of an old prison outer wall. These Walls commemorate those who died in the political struggles against apartheid at Sharpville (1960) and Langa (1985).