[Debate] (Fwd) "Low-Carbon" "climate-smart" Durban, yeah right

[Mojalefa Murphy]

Please peruse and see if the following articles may be useful to you.

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From: Patrick Bond <pbond at mail.ngo.za>
Date: Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 5:26 AM
Subject: [Debate] (Fwd) "Low-Carbon" "climate-smart" Durban, yeah right
To: DEBATE <debate-list at fahamu.org>, durbansocialForum at yahoogroups.com,
CJN!SA <climatejusticesa at googlegroups.com>, CJA International <
climate09-int at lists.riseup.net>, climate justice Network <
cjn at lists.riseup.net>


**
(Not only because of the greenwash spin, this is a truly farcical document
in the whole scheme of things - and is such a reflection of Academy of
Science SA blindspots. At the launch last Tuesday, I wondered why there was
no mention of Durban's vast higher-carbon trajectory - with $35 billion in
anticipated investments now underway in air transport, massive harbour and
freight expansion, cancerous growth of petrochemicals and especially
refining in South Durban residential neighbourhoods, Durban-Joburg oil
pipeline capacity doubling, the sports tourism fetish, etc - but the author
and municipal official simply couldn't answer except to say, 'let the
conversation begin'. A bit late in the day.)



http://www.assaf.org.za/2011/08/durban-on-a-pathway-towards-a-low-carbon-city/

**
Durban on a pathway towards a low carbon city

* *Climate change mitigation and adaptation opportunities for the city of
Durban in transitioning to a low carbon city are the focus of a consensus
study commissioned by the eThekwini Municipality and completed by the
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).

The report entitled *Towards a Low Carbon City: Focus on Durban* identifies
key areas of intervention that would position Durban on a pathway towards a
low carbon city.

Climate change is one of the most significant global issues of our time. The
population of Africa is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate
change and has done comparably little to cause the phenomenon. South Africa,
on the other hand, in addition to being vulnerable to the impacts of climate
change, is a major contributor to climate change through its heavy
dependence on fossil fuels, particularly coal. Cities are recognised as
major contributors to climate change as they are densely populated with high
levels of consumption and energy-use. Hence, they have a major role to play
in finding solutions to the problem.

The report provides 12 key strategic recommendations, as well as
sector-specific recommendations, which Durban needs to address in order to
transition to a low carbon city. While focusing on Durban, the
recommendations are generally applicable to cities in developing countries
and can be used as a guideline for local governments in other cities.

In the report the critical issue of transitioning to a low carbon city in
the face of high levels of unemployment and the need for economic
development is addressed by emphasising the need to shift to a green
economy. The green economy provides an overarching framework in which all
activities can be steered in a coordinated way in a low carbon and
sustainable direction.

To ensure that climate change policies and actions can be developed and
implemented effectively and efficiently, with the full support of the
political leadership of the city and local citizens, it is essential for
co-benefits of climate change to be emphasised. Furthermore, a strong drive
to ensure multi-level governance and the recognition of the role of
visionary leaders or local champions is necessary for low carbon development
in the city.

Other recommendations urge the city of Durban to promote low carbon
lifestyles and play a leadership role in reducing upstream carbon emissions.
An understanding of the carbon footprint of the city from a consumption
perspective is important.

Land-use planning also plays a key role in low carbon development. Key
principles include combating urban sprawl, compacting city form,
decentralising urban opportunities, promoting sustainable neighbourhood
planning, and a shared vision of spatial development in the city amongst all
stakeholders.

Traditionally, mitigation and adaptation activities have developed
separately in cities, frequently residing in different municipal
departments. There is a need to develop a strong drive to integrate
mitigation and adaptation activities across the municipality.

Urgent attention must be given to the industrial and transport sectors, as
they are recognised as the major greenhouse gas emitters in the city.* *Energy
efficiency in buildings is often hailed as the ‘low-hanging fruit’ in the
low carbon transition process, as actions can be implemented more easily
than in other sectors such as transport. It is recommended that eThekwini
Municipality extends its focus on energy efficiency in municipal buildings
to the broader built environment in the city. * *

The city of Durban has been a leader in South Africa with regard to climate
change adaptation and mitigation initiatives and the release of the report
coincides with the city’s hosting of the 17th Conference of the Parties
(COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2011.*
 *

Dr Debra Roberts (Deputy Head: Environmental Planning and Climate
Protection) said: “This marks another important step in Durban’s journey to
becoming a climate smart city. A city in which a low carbon, green economy
provides opportunities for both climate change mitigation and adaptation and
fosters a new form of urban development that ensures ecological integrity
and human well being”.

***

Daily News

Durban needs to be a low carbon city

August 25 2011 at 06:00am
durbanweb

INLSA

LAEA MEDLEY

DURBAN needs to become a “low carbon city”, and has been put on the pathway
to being “climate-smart”, in preparation for this year’s Conference of the
Parties (COP17).

The Academy of Science of SA (ASSAf) launched a report on a study which
identifies key areas of intervention that would prepare Durban, the host of
COP17, for becoming a low carbon city. ASSAf was commissioned to compile the
report by the eThekwini municipality’s environmental planning and climate
protection department.

The report, titled “Towards a Low Carbon City: Focus on Durban”, focuses on
a local and national context, achieving low carbon governance and citizenry,
as well as recommendations for both citizens and governments on how to make
Durban “green”.

One of the main recommendations is to give urgent attention to the city’s
transport sector. “Transport is a tricky issue,” said ASSAf’s executive
officer, Prof Roseanne Diab. “We must encourage people to stop using their
cars and start using public transport.”

Other recommendations include decentralising urban areas and using rural
areas to their full potential, and planting roof-top gardens in the city.
Diab explained that South African cities should play a critical role in
addressing climate change. “Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town are
responsible for 21 percent of South Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions,” she
said.

laea.medley at inl.co.za

***
 Durban Unveils Low-Carbon Road Map Ahead Of Climate Gathering

26 August, 2011


The Academy of Science of South Africa has produced a report highlighting
climate change mitigation and adaptation opportunities for the City of
Durban entitled ‘Towards a Low Carbon City: Focus on Durban’.

The report was commissioned by the eThekwini municipality and provides 12
strategic recommendations, as well as sector-specific recommendations for
Durban to transition to a low-carbon city.

The eThekwini municipality recognises that urgent attention should be given
to the industrial and transport sectors, as these are the major
greenhouse-gas emitters in the city.

It was recommended that eThekwini municipality extend its focus on energy
efficiency in municipal buildings to the broader built environment in the
city. Energy efficiency in buildings is often hailed as the ‘low-hanging
fruit’ in the low-carbon transition process, as actions can be implemented
more easily than in other sectors such as transport.

Transitioning to a low-carbon city in the face of high levels of
unemployment and the need for economic development was addressed in the
report by emphasising the need to shift to a green economy.

There was a need to integrate mitigation and adaptation activities across
the municipality, because traditionally, mitigation and adaptation
activities have developed separately in cities, frequently residing in
different municipal departments.

A strong drive to ensure multilevel governance and the recognition of the
role of visionary leaders, or local champions, was viewed as necessary for
low-carbon development in the city. This would ensure that climate change
policies and actions were developed and implemented effectively and
efficiently, with the full support of the political leadership of the city
and local citizens.

Land-use planning also plays a key role in low-carbon development. Key
principles include combating urban sprawl, compacting city form,
decentralising urban opportunities, promoting sustainable neighbourhood
planning, and a shared vision of spatial development in the city amongst all
stakeholders.

Other recommendations urged the City of Durban to promote low-carbon
lifestyles and play a leadership role in reducing upstream carbon emissions.
An understanding of the carbon footprint of the city from a consumption
perspective was important.

“This marks another important step in Durban’s journey to becoming a climate
smart city. A city in which a low-carbon, green economy provides
opportunities for both climate change mitigation and adaptation and fosters
a new form of urban development that ensures ecological integrity and human
well being,” said eThekwini Environmental Planning and Climate Protection
deputy head Debra Roberts.

The release of the report coincides with the city’s hosting of the
seventeenth Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, later in 2011
Source: www.polity.org.za

***

Greener pastures visualised for Durban
VICTORIA JOHN - Aug 26 2011 00:07


A new study released in Durban this week has made sweeping recommendations
about how to reduce the city's carbon footprint, including energy generation
through biomass suited to a subtropical climate and increased local
production to reduce the burning of fossil fuels in transporting goods.

The Academy of Science of South Africa's (Assaf) 250-page study, "Towards a
Low-Carbon City: Focus on Durban", precedes the city's hosting of the United
Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP 17, later this year and has
implications for metropolitan governance throughout South Africa.

The report highlights the fact that as cities account for 80% of the world's
greenhouse-gas emissions, they should take the lead in reducing their carbon
footprint. South Africa has announced a target of a 34% reduction in
greenhouse-gas emissions by 2020.

Assaf president Robin Crewe said it was widely acknowledged that African
countries and their vulnerable populations would be hardest hit by climate
change as they had fewer adaptive options.

Yet the transition in Africa to "low-carbon" cities could be seen as an
economic opportunity, not a burden, Assaf's report argues.

Such development offers significant co-benefits, including improved public
health as a result of reduced air pollution, greater agricultural
productivity and greater water and energy security.

Assaf recommends that every action, investment, regulation or decision
should contribute to building a city economy that is "low carbon, resource
efficient and socially inclusive".

Assaf chief executive Roseanne Diab said a green economy could create
employment opportunities. About 33% of Durban's 3.4-million inhabitants were
poor and more than 35% of the economically active population was unemployed.

More than 69% of residents were black, 41% of them poor.

The trade-offs of becoming a low-carbon city should be highlighted to
elevate the issue of climate change to a higher level, Diab said.

This was particularly the case in a city in which there was a focus on more
pressing issues, with poor public awareness and scarce resources.

"Durban has a subtropical climate that is favourable [for the production of]
renewable energy from biomass. If we can't do this in Durban then where can
we do it?" she asked.

Innovation through partnerships must also be encouraged, the study
recommends.

The eThekwini municipality should foster technological and social innovation
by linking up with local universities, businesses and communities.

Low-carbon lifestyles should be encouraged and to do this, residents'
shopping trolleys should be analysed to get to the bottom of their
carbon-emitting habits.

The report found that many goods and services enjoyed in one city were
produced in another and fossil fuels were burned in moving consumables
between destinations. Local production of goods and services would thus
contribute to low-carbon development globally.

Diab suggested cities should "produce local, buy local".

The report says land use has a substantial effect on greenhouse-gas
emissions and Durban must combat urban sprawl. It should also pay urgent
attention to industry, responsible for 45% of the emissions in the city, and
the transport sector, responsible for 25%.

It calls for the enforcement of the "polluter pays" principle and for the
authorities to confine revenue to investment in industries that favour
low-carbon activities and provide strong local social benefits.

***



Waging war on Durban's poison
VICTORIA JOHN  - Aug 23 2011 16:22


Can cities in developing countries, including South Africa, realistically be
expected to reduce their toxic greenhouse gas emissions when they have more
urgent problems deriving from poverty, disease and inequality?

Emphatically yes, said a major new study released in Durban on Tuesday.

The Academy of Science of South Africa's (Assaf) 250-page study, Towards a
Low-Carbon City: Focus on Durban, comes in the run-up to the city's hosting
of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 17) later
this year.

Cities globally account for 80% of toxic greenhouse gas emissions, so it
should be they who take the lead in reducing their carbon footprints. And
South Africa has announced its target of a 34% reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions by 2020

But it is widely acknowledged that African countries, with their vulnerable
populations, will be hardest-hit by the effects of climate change, said
Assaf president Professor Robin Crewe. This is because African countries
have fewer adaptive options than developed countries do.

Yet the transition to "low-carbon" cities on the continent can be seen as an
economic opportunity, not a burden, Assaf's report argues: "A low-carbon
pathway should not be viewed as one that precludes economic growth, but
rather as an opportunity to deliberately shape future development such that
it accords with low-carbon principles."

The eThekwini municipality commissioned Assaf to identify ways of putting
Durban on the low-carbon path. The city wants to "reduce its greenhouse gas
emissions and increase its carbon sinks, while simultaneously adapting to
anticipated climate change impact", the study notes.

Assaf, which advises government on critical scientific issues, said the
rhetoric of climate change policy should shift from "limitation",
"constraint" and "reduction" to an emphasis on investments in new technology
and creating low-carbon jobs.

"Low-carbon development also offers significant co-benefits that are
pertinent for developing countries, such as improved public health as a
result of reduced air pollution, greater agricultural productivity, and
greater water and energy security, among others," the study says.


It makes 12 specific recommendations for putting Durban on the low-carbon
path -- ones it says other developing cities could adopt. The city must
shift towards a green economy by ensuring that every action, investment,
regulation or decision contributes to building an economy that is
"low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially inclusive".

Professor Roseanne Diab, CEO of Assaf, said at Tuesday's launch that the
move to a green economy is "critical and not just rhetoric".

"A green economy has the potential to bring about employment opportunities,"
she said. "We were mindful of the fact that we were dealing with a high rate
of unemployment and poverty in Durban. We knew that the reality on the
ground needed to be brought into the recommendations."

Other recommendations included the need to emphasise climate change
co-benefits, for example, improved public health as a result of reduced air
pollution, greater agricultural productivity, and greater water and energy
security.

The "win-wins" and "trade-offs" across the municipality need to be
highlighted. If a city is "focusing on more pressing issues, if public
awareness is poor and if resources are scarce, then emphasising co-benefits
can elevate the issue of climate change to a higher level", Diab said.

"Durban has a subtropical climate that is favourable [to produce] renewable
energy from biomass -- and if we can't do this in Durban then where can we
do it?" she asked, illustrating one of the business benefits the transition
to a low-carbon city could offer.

Innovation through partnerships must also be encouraged, the study
recommends. The eThekwini municipality should foster technological and
social innovation by linking up with local universities, businesses and
communities.

The report says land use has a substantial effect on greenhouse gas
emissions and Durban needs to combat urban sprawl. So too, it must pay
urgent attention to industry -- responsible for 45% of the greenhouse gas
emissions in the city -- and the transport sector, next in line with 25%.

Speaking at Tuesday's launch, eThekwini municipality councillor Tex Collins
welcomed Assaf's recommendations. "We need to change political ideology to
make this work. I can tell you that I am going to take this [the report] and
shove it down everybody's throats," he said.

***

Durban releases its low carbon strategy to coincide with COP 17

*Climate Connect News, London, 24 August 2011:* Climate change mitigation
and adaptation opportunities for the city of Durban in transitioning to a
low carbon city are the focus of a consensus study commissioned by the
eThekwini Municipality and completed by the Academy of Science of South
Africa (ASSAf), stated a news
release<http://www.assaf.org.za/2011/08/durban-on-a-pathway-towards-a-low-carbon-city/>.
The report entitled “Towards a Low Carbon City: Focus on Durban” identifies
key areas of intervention that would position Durban on a pathway towards a
low carbon city.

[image: Durban GHG emissions]

The report provides 12 key strategic recommendations, as well as
sector-specific recommendations, which Durban needs to address in order to
transition to a low carbon city. While focusing on Durban, the
recommendations are generally applicable to cities in developing countries
and can be used as a guideline for local governments in other cities. The
report states that Durban accounts for 7 percent of South Africa's GHG
emissions.

The report calls for urgent attention must be given to the industrial and
transport sectors, as they are the major greenhouse gas emitters in the
city. Energy efficiency in buildings is often hailed as the ‘low-hanging
fruit’ in the low carbon transition process, as actions can be implemented
more easily than in other sectors such as transport. The release states that
it is recommended that eThekwini Municipality extends its focus on energy
efficiency in municipal buildings to the broader built environment in the
city.

Keywords: Durban, COP 17, ASSAf, Low Carbon City

Publishing Author: Climate Connect Newsdesk

For more information about this article, contact: info at climate-connect.co.uk




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