The Western Cape Government and other governments officially launched the Energy Security Game changer at the V&A waterfront on the 19th of March 2016. The initiative aims to ensure sufficient power to sustain households and grow businesses in the province with an ultimate goal to achieve an effective 10% contribution to the electricity needs of the Western Cape by 2019 by reducing our province’s demand from Eskom. Households, businesses and governments can be contributors through low carbon supply and energy sufficiency measures – including the investment in energy efficiency, solar water heaters, and rooftop solar PV. The message was well received by those attended, media and social media. Visit the Energising the Western Cape webpage for more information and join us in our effort to #switchandsave, and together we can make our province energy sufficient. Also interact with us via our social media pages and get more energy saving tips, #switchandsave
The International Learning Organisation (ILO) held Green jobs workshops at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens earlier this month. Although the workshop was primarily open to ILO staff only, the Western Cape Government was invited to be part of 2 sessions in discussions around human empowerment and sustainable development. The workshop was attended by Karen Shippey, Chief Director: Environmental Sustainability the Western Cape Government’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&P), and colleagues from the Green Economy unit in the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), namely Lourencio Pick, Africa Ndude, and Thomas Chevallier.
In light of the Green Economy and Economic Development, the City of Cape Town (CoCT), the Western Cape Government (WCG), and property management company Garden Cities, handed over the first four completed units of what is regarded as a catalytic human settlements project for the Fisantekraal area, near Durbanville on 17 March 2016. CoCT’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Benedicta van Minnen described this development as “A truly integrated, sustainable human settlement with all social, economic and transport amenities”
This month was a good for the energy domain. Later in February, Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters, launched a Solar Power plant at George airport in the Western Cape, making it the first clean energy powered airport on the continent. The South African Government also launched operations at the new 50 megawatts concentrated solar plant (CSP) in the Northern Cape.
As April marks the beginning of the new financial year 2016/17, we will continue to emphasise the integration of ‘Green’ into economic development programmes and projects and promote the Green Economy to ensure efficiency of our resources. With these milestones and more to come, it is conclusive that we can do better together.