Photo: eThekwini-Municipality

South African cities challenged to lead the world in tackling climate change

05 August 2013

by Richard Forster

For the first time, South African municipalities will compete with cities around the world for the title of Global Earth Hour Capital by registering their data on the carbonCities Climate Registry (cCCR), an internationally recognised reporting platform managed by ICLEI-local governments for sustainability.

The challenge builds on WWF’s Earth Hour campaign, which asks citizens across the world to switch off their lights for an hour in support of global efforts against climate change. The Earth Hour City Challenge (EHCC) asks cities to take Earth Hour beyond the hour by demonstrating their plans and actions for low carbon development and for increasing the use of sustainable renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions in the future.

eThekwini Municipality (Durban) has already signed up to the challenge. “eThekwini Municipality has taken a concerted stance on the fight against climate change and has been reporting its greenhouse gas emissions and accompanying mitigation and adaptation plans on the cCCR for a number of years,” said Derek Morgan, Head of the Energy Unit, eThekwini Municipality. “Whether eThekwini Municipality wins or loses the EHCC is irrelevant. Climate change does not know municipal boundaries and it is therefore important that all municipalities, be it metro, district or local, join hands to collectively tackle climate change.”

Designed to highlight and reward cities that are prepared to make substantial long-term efforts to combat climate change, the challenge invites cities around the world to submit inspiring and credible urban development plans for building, transport, energy and food systems.

Cities will be asked to register their data on the carbonn Cities Climate Registry which will be open for reporting until October 2013. Strategies will then be evaluated by an international jury, and in March 2014, the city with the highest overall score will be awarded the title Global Earth Hour Capital.

“Municipalities across South Africa have been taking steps to respond to climate change and promote decentralised renewable energy for many years, but there needs to be massive up-scaling of commitment and action,” said Steve Bland, ICLEI Africa Project Manager. “We call on municipalities to develop energy strategies in the coming year so that South Africa can proudly showcase many more eligible cities taking part in next year’s EHCC in 2014-2015.”

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