City of Cape Town Cape Town: Setting a path towards sustainability

Presentation to Botswana delegation: 11 June 2012

City of Cape Town: World City of Cape Town: World Bio and Heritage Hotspot Bio and Heritage Hotspot

• Two Biospheres

• Two World Heritage Sites

• One National Park

• 261 biodiversity sites of special value

• 3000 floral spp

Critical environmental Critical environmental challenges facingchallenges facing

Cape Town (1)Cape Town (1)

• The great poverty divide

• Inequitable, inefficient City

• Unsustainable transport network

• HIV-AIDS and TB pandemics

Critical environmental Critical environmental challenges facingchallenges facing

Cape Town (2)Cape Town (2)

• Pressure on land [conservation vs urbanisation]

• Invasive vegetation

• Water scarcity and accessibility

• Institutional capacity

What is “environment” in the CCT?What is “environment” in the CCT?

The way these three elements fit and work together creates the environment we live in.

Natural environment Socio-cultural environment

Built environment

• First environmental policy for Cape Town

• Based on the principles of sustainable development

• Milestone for environmental management in the City of Cape Town

Integrated Metropolitan Environmental PolicyIntegrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy

IMEP Brochure

IMEP PrinciplesIMEP Principles

• Adopting approaches to sustainable development• Holistic approach to environment• Protecting unique biodiversity• Meeting requirements of international, national and

provincial environmental legislation• Responsible stewardship of resources with local

government’s charge• Inherent rights of all living creatures• Commitment to partnerships with civil society

Detailed Sectoral Strategies

Sectoral Approaches

Tools

WaterResources

IMEPGeneral

environmentalpolicy principles

Soils

Fauna andFlora

EnvironmentalImpactAssessment

EnvironmentalEducation

EnvironmentalManagementSystems

State ofEnvironmentReporting

LocalAgenda 21

CostBenefitAnalysis

SignificanceMapping

EnvironmentalRiskAssessment

Best PracticeEnvironmentalOption

IntegratedEnvironmentalManagement

CulturalHeritage

Urbanisationand Housing

Infrastructure

TransportationEnergy

Waste

Economy

EnvironmentalHealth

EnvironmentalEducation

Safety andSecurity

EnvironmentalGovernance

Air

Emission Targets

Ukuvuka:OperationFirestop

Coastal ZoneStrategy

BiodiversityStrategy

Quality UrbanSpaces

Noise Pollution

Medical WasteStrategy

RenewableEnergy

Implementationthrough the IDP

Implementationthrough the IDP

Implementationthrough the IDP

Implementationthrough the IDP

Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Mngt. Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Mngt. StrategyStrategy

State of the Environment (SoE) ReportState of the Environment (SoE) Report• Environmental pressures,

state and responses• Indicators of

sustainability• 15 sectoral approaches

Year 3 (2000) SoE Report Year 2 (1999) SoE Report

IMEP Tool:

Environmental Significance MappingEnvironmental Significance Mapping

Includes: terrestrial, marine,aquatic, heritage resources,social, visual and geophysical layers

GIS map of the environmentally significant areas of the CMA

• Widely distributed for use and comment• Refined and updated on a regular basis

GIS sample screen

IMEP Tool:

Integrated Environmental Integrated Environmental Management (IEM)Management (IEM)

• City’s compliance with the EIA regulations

• IEM procedures

• Contextual IEM Guidelines

IMEP Tool:

IMEP Implementation / Metrowide policy & legislative integration:

Development Control contd...Development Control contd...

Communication mast Outdoor Advertising

• Outdoor Advertising By-law• Cellmast Policy

From Agenda to ActionFrom Agenda to Action8 implementation strategies in 2 years

• Biodiversity

• Coastal Zone Management

• Energy

• Environmental Education

From Agenda to ActionFrom Agenda to Action

8 implementation strategies in 2 years (continued)

• Air pollution

• Noise pollution

• Special open places

• Litter and waste

Emphasis on PovertyEmphasis on Poverty

Improve local environments and open spaces through community partnerships, emphasizing vulnerable sectors of society

BiodiversityBiodiversityConservation of Cape Flats FloraConservation of Cape Flats Flora

• 261 sites of important biodiversity

• Outcomes-based education poster and Teacher’s Guide

• Exhibition and pamphlet production

Set of 4 posters Core Sites map

IMEP Implementation / Metrowide strategy:

Coastal Zone ManagementCoastal Zone Management

• Coastal Zone definition• State of the Coast report• Draft Coastal Zone

strategy presented for comment

• Integrated coastal restoration projects

• Sustainable Coastal Management Plans

• Blue Flag Beaches

IMEP Implementation / Metrowide strategy:

Environmental EducationEnvironmental Educationand Trainingand Training

IMEP Implementation / Metrowide strategy:

IMEP REVIEW: Key Findings1. Cape Town’s environmental quality remains under pressure and

continues to decline

a. Resource use and consumption is increasing while our ability and that of the environment to absorb the waste is decreasing

b. Natural landscapes and biodiversity are under increasing threat and pressure

c. Inequalities in social living environments are increasing as is the demand on aging infrastructure

Key Recommendations and Implementation

1. Long Term Development Plan

The City should develop a strong, single, long-term development plan to which it remains committed and within which it prioritizes its natural assets.

2. Institutional Accountability and Responsibility

This should be achieved through the establishment of formal Service Level Agreements for each sector, aligned with environmental strategies.

Build environmental capacity within line functions through the SLAs, and Internal Staff Capacity Building and Training Programmes.

Key Recommendations and Implementation

8. Organisational Commitment

Lead by example

City commitment to reduce its own resource consumption and improve resource efficiencies by at least 30%

9. Environmental Governance and Reporting

The establishment of clear mechanisms to ensure that the decision making process within the City of Cape Town is accountable and adheres to agreed sustainability principles and goals. E.g. Environmental evaluation of all major City projects as part of the approval process.

The City’s Approach to Climate Change

Climate Adaptation Plan of Action

Outlines sector-based adaptation interventionsSome are already taking place

Some are planned

Some require further investigation and research

Approach has been two-foldTo examine climate-related vulnerability within the city & develop adaptation programmes around these

To workshop climate projections with specific sectors to establish a range of potential impacts, identify areas of vulnerability, and possible adaptation interventions

ALSO

Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Coastal Protection Zone and Sea Level Rise Study

Promotion of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems

A dynamic process of adaptation, learning and action

The City’s Approach to Climate ChangeConserving highly valuable ecosystem services

Healthy ecosystems have been globally

recognised as critical in resilience &

adaptation planning:

- buffering climate shocks & extreme weather

events

- key to retaining critical resources - water and

food production

- economic value in preventing losses

The City’s Approach to Climate Change

Climate Smart Cape Town

Promote Cape Town as leading city

in addressing climate change;

Promote climate change literacy

amongst Capetonians;

Facilitate hosting key events in

Cape Town linked to COP 17

Posters ; performance and art

Banners ; exhibitions

Articles in media; radio interviews

Social media ; Green Map

Social surveys

Carrotmob

Intervention at COP 17

City of CT – Position on Climate Change1. We are all in this together –our response must be collective effort from

government, business and civil society.2. Climate change is not an environmental issue – it is a socio- economic

one at the core of government planning 3. Energy underpins our lives, our economy and our future. Urgent priority -

introduction of renewable sources and increase energy efficiency 4. No more ‘business as usual’ - urgent need to implement adaptation plans

to reduce the City’s risk to a changed climate, avert disaster and protect our economy and communities.

5. Climate change demands strong, bold leadership at government, business and community levels, that leads by determining development path founded on resilience, sustainability and a green economy.

6. We need to trust science. Even though at best open to variability, we have no other reliable information to guide us at this critical time.

7. Climate change - opportunity to build a green economic sector promoting growth and job creation and based on renewable energy, better public transport and protection of coastline, ecosystems, natural spaces and service infrastructure

Slide 25

WSSD, Rio + 20 and beyondWSSD, Rio + 20 and beyond• Toward an integrated sustainable future• Integration across silos• Local Agenda 21 to Local Action 21• Embracing partnerships• World strategy to protect GCGs• Pledges and Declarations