The City of Johannesburg, through its Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) Air Quality and Climate Change Unit, has initiated a comprehensive review of its 2021 Climate Action Plan (CAP) to ensure the City's climate response remains aligned with current legislation, the latest scientific evidence, and emerging socio-economic realities.
The project is supported by the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) programme and is being implemented in partnership with Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
As South Africa's largest metropolitan municipality, Johannesburg is home to more than 6 million residents and remains the country's economic hub. However, it faces growing climate-related pressures that threaten communities and long-term development. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, flash floods, and worsening air quality are already affecting infrastructure, livelihoods, and public health, with low-income and vulnerable communities carrying the greatest burden.
Johannesburg's Climate Action Plan, developed with support from C40 Cities, was adopted in 2021. Since then, the climate governance landscape has shifted considerably. The enactment of the South African Climate Change Act in 2024, updated population and socio-economic data from the 2022 Census, and findings from the latest assessment cycle of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have reshaped the context in which climate planning takes place.
The revised CAP will incorporate new City Council-adopted policies and strategies introduced since 2021. It will also draw on improved data platforms, including MetroView, a climate risk platform that provides deeper insight into spatial vulnerabilities and hazard exposure across Johannesburg. This will allow the City to develop a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of climate risks and identify where interventions are most urgently needed.
The review seeks to assess and strengthen the City's climate strategy by incorporating the latest evidence, stakeholder input, and legislative changes while improving the implementation of climate actions.
Director for Climate Change and Air Quality in the City Lebo Molefe emphasised the importance of strengthening Johannesburg's climate response. “The City must enhance its evidence base, improve coordination across departments, and mobilise citizens, businesses, and investors around a shared vision for a resilient, inclusive, and low-emissions Johannesburg."
Molefe added that the review will help the City better respond to climate risks and meet evolving national and global requirements by assessing progress against climate goals, identifying challenges, and providing strategic direction for future action.
Project Manager at Sustainable Energy Africa Zanie Cilliers said the review marks a critical shift in how climate action is approached.
“This approach transforms climate action from a process driven by a few experts into a shared responsibility across the City. It brings together data, people, and policy, enabling Johannesburg to act more swiftly, incorporate diverse perspectives, and advance a future that is both low-carbon and equitable," she said.
Stakeholders who wish to participate in this process are invited to submit their contact details to Keaobaka Kgethwane at KeaobakaK@joburg.org.za.
Written by Dudu Lushaba
26/05/2026
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