2009-12-18: Climate change battle will be won at local level, says Mayor Masondo
THE global battle for climate change will be won, or lost, at local level, says the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Clr Amos Masondo.
Speaking at an international conference in Copenhagen organised by Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) Mayor Masondo said it is unrealistic and unjust to expect communities and their local governments to carry the burden of climate change response on their own.
We need recognition of local government. We need a partnership. We need appropriate financing and capacity building mechanisms, he said.
Mayor Masondo is a former president of ICLEI and co-president of United Cities and Local Government (UCLG) the representative global forum for municipalities. He was sharing a platform at the Copenhagen summit with the mayors of London, New York, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto.
Copenhagen must deliver a comprehensive international response that is inclusive, just and implementable. “It must give expression to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, he said.
Expressing concern that draft negotiation documents at the summit fail to recognise the importance of local government, Mayor Masondo said: We call upon world ministers and leaders to recognize the role which local and sub-national governments play in addressing the impacts of climate change.
We also call upon world leaders to commit to an outcome that will seek active participation of local and sub national governments.
Mayor Masondo said that many of the most effective measures to curb climate change falls within the responsibility of local government, including:
Energy efficiency (efficient lighting, thermally efficient buildings, efficient heating and ventilation, water consumption reduction)
Renewable energy consumption (solar water heating, wind farm development, landfill gas to energy, ‘green’ electricity purchase, biogas digestion)
Transport modal shifts (from private to public)
New planning approaches to urban development
Community awareness and behavioral change
Resilient/ sustainable infrastructure development in the areas of water, waste management, energy, storm water and roads,)
Disaster management; and
Reorganizing local economies into sustainable paths in the wake of climate change question
For more information contact:
Nkhensani Makhobela
Spokesperson for the Executive Mayor
Private Office of the Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg
Tel: +27 11 407 7524
Fax: +27 11 381 9982
Fax: +27 11 339 5704
Mobile: 082 461 7075
E-mail: nkhensanima@joburg.org.za
Nthatisi Modingoane
Deputy Director: Communications
City of Johannesburg
Tel: (011) 407 7354
Fax: 403 3494
Cell: 082 467 9228
E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za
