City of Cape Town is Acting Local, Thinking Global for Sustainable Development

A City of Cape Town delegation will travel to New York to participate in the 14th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. The delegation includes Councillor Marian Nieuwoudt, Mayoral Committee Member for Planning and Environment and Councillor Themba Sikhutshwa, Africa's representative on the Executive Committee of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability.

The Commission is a functional body of the United Nations, reviewing and monitoring progress at international, regional, national and local levels in the implementation of the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation. The 14th session of the Commission will review progress in the areas of energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution and climate change.

Councillor Nieuwoudt says: "The opportunity afforded to the City of Cape Town to participate in the 14th session of the commission, acknowledges Cape Town's role and commitment as an African leader in the field of sustainable development, climate change and energy. We have a sound set of strategies in place to guide us toward the fulfilment of this role, including our Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy, Energy and Climate Change Strategy, Air Quality Management Plan and 2005 Sustainability Report".

The Cape Town delegation will make-up part of the country's national delegation to the Commission and will seek to support and enhance the South African Government's desired outcomes for the Commission. This will include the profiling of sustainable development best practices and challenges in Cape Town and ensuring that the voice of local authorities are heard.

In addition to its role on the national delegation, the Cape Town delegates have also been invited to be part of the ICLEI team, working towards enhancing the role and recognition of local government in sustainability actions around the world. Cape Town hosted ICLEI's triennial World Congress from 27 February - 3 March 2006 and several issues raised at the congress will be further developed at the United Nations event.

Through its participation, the City of Cape Town aims to heighten the significant role and responsibilities of local authorities as respected and critical partners in achieving global sustainable development, including within the ongoing work of the Commission.

Councillor Themba Sikhutshwa added: "The Commission is an important multi-lateral forum for reviewing constraints and obstacles in the process of sustainable development. One of which is the ongoing capacity building and support to local authorities as the sphere of government at the coalface of sustainable development implementation. In the case of Cape Town this entails the provision of support to sustain and further enhance the good work that is already underway. For other local authorities the nature of the needs may differ. However, we can all agree that the general need for global support to local authorities in achieving global sustainable development is imperative".

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability is a worldwide association of cities, towns and countries dedicated to sustainable development.
Its mission is to build and serve a worldwide movement of local governments to achieve tangible improvements in global sustainability with a special focus on environmental conditions through cumulative local actions.

Issued by:
Directorate: Communication and Marketing
City of Cape Town
Email: media@capetown.gov.za
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Fax: 021 957 0023

Media queries:
Osman Asmal
Director: Environmental Resource Management
City of Cape Town
Cell: 084 786 8292