KwaDukuza Local Municipality: Committed to low-emissions development for a greener future
Published: 20 Sep 2024
Mitigation
KwaDukuza, is a pioneering municipality in South Africa, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to combating climate change since joining the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) at its inception in 2015. As one of the longest-standing signatories, KwaDukuza showcases a proactive approach to building climate resilience by engaging in vital climate action activities such as baseline reviews and regular reporting. These efforts align seamlessly with the objectives outlined in South Africa's recently endorsed Climate Change Act, underscoring KwaDukuza's readiness to align with national climate goals.
Developing an updated Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory
Recently, the municipality requested support from the CoM SSA Technical Helpdesk to co-develop an updated greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory. This initiative builds on two previous inventories developed under the Urban LEDS project hosted by ICLEI Africa. Thanks to the involvement of municipal officials’ and their assistance with supplying relevant data, the CoM SSA Technical Helpdesk successfully compiled a GHG emission inventory for KwaDukuza for the 2022/2023 financial year.
Conducting GHG emission inventories (GHGEIs) every few years is crucial for tracking progress in reducing emissions, identifying trends, and making informed policy decisions. While KwaDukuza's emissions increased between 2014 and 2022, achieving a net reduction in emissions in a developing economy is challenging. This reality highlights the importance of low-emissions development pathways that allow for economic and population growth while minimizing emissions and mitigating climate change.
Enhancing the Low-Emission Development Strategic Framework and Action Plan
KwaDukuza's commitment to climate action goes beyond GHG inventories. The municipality also sought support to update its Low-Emission Development Strategic Framework and Action Plan, initially developed in 2014 under the Urban-LEDS project. This updated Plan includes a low-emission development vision, a mitigation target, and specific indicators for four strategic objectives. For example, an indicator such as the "percentage of trips taken in trains, buses, and taxis" is linked to the strategic objective of promoting a compact, resource- and energy-efficient built environment that enables sustainable mobility choices for all.
To ensure coherence and effectiveness, the CoM SSA Technical Help Desk reviewed the Plan for alignment with CoM SSA's Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plan (SEACAP) mitigation principles. Following this review, the Help Desk recommended changes to the overall mitigation target and strategic objective indicators to incorporate the results of the 2022/2023) GHG emissions inventory and align the plan with South Africa's latest Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). By aligning with the NDC, KwaDukuza ensures that its local actions collectively support broader climate objectives, emphasizing the importance of a cohesive approach to climate action across all levels of government.
Fostering collaboration through participatory workshops
CoM SSA convened a workshop in KwaDukuza to reach consensus on the target and indicators, with the support of the THD. This participatory workshop included municipal officials from several departments within KwaDukuza and representatives from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and Kwa-Zulu Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) department. Involving different levels of government early in the planning processes fosters greater accountability and ensures a unified approach to tackling climate challenges.
Following this workshop, KwaDukuza will update the actions in the Plan and submit it to Council for approval, aiming to integrating it into the municipal Integrated Development Plan (IDP). This integration will enable low-emissions development priorities to be mainstreamed across the municipality, embedding them in future planning processes and project implementation.
A track record of transparent reporting and recognition
Since 2019, KwaDukuza has been one of the South African cities consistently reporting city-level climate data to CDP-ICLEI Track, a one-stop reporting platform for multiple climate initiatives. Their consistent reporting has earned them Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) badges from the CoM SSA THD, signifying's their progress in developing a fully compliant SEACAP, for the Mitigation and Adaptation Pillars. Through reporting to the CDP-ICLEI Track, KwaDukuza opted into the bi-annual friendly competition, the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC), emerging as the national winner of the challenge in 2020.
Aligning local actions with the national climate agenda
KwaDukuza's ongoing efforts are particularly relevant given the recent signing of South Africa's Climate Change Bill into law. This Bill, now a critical piece of legislation, aims to develop an effective climate change response and facilitate a long-term just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. The Bill acknowledges South Africa role in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and highlights the country's geographic vulnerability to climate impacts, requiring urgent and appropriate adaptation responses.
By aligning its local initiatives with national priorities, KwaDukuza exemplifies how municipalities can play a vital role in implementing the frameworks set out by the Climate Change Act. This alignment ensures that climate actions are facilitated and coordinated across all spheres of government, with municipalities mandated to develop climate change needs and response implementation plans.
KwaDukuza’s proactive approach and commitment to low-emissions development serve as an inspiring model for other municipalities, demonstrating that effective climate action is possible at the local level. By integrating sustainability into its planning and development strategies, KwaDukuza is paving the way for a greener, more resilient future for its citizens and the nation as a whole.
If you are a CoM SSA signatory needing support on your SEACAP journey, contact the THD at technicalhelpdesk@comssa.org. If your local government would like to join CoM SSA (it's free), contact the THD.
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