Cop workshop in Bojanala a success
2011/11/24

On 24 November 2011 a capacity building workshop entitled ‘The Road Towards COP 17 and Beyond, Mitigation and Adaptation in Local Government’, was held in Bojanala Platinum District Municipality. It aimed to build the capacity of local councillors ahead of COP 17, to be held in Durban from 28 November – 9 December 2011, to strengthen local actions and explore local climate change adaptation options. The event was opened by Councillor Evelyn M.Molotsi, Member of Mayoral Committee Community Environmental Services who welcomed nearly thirty councillors from the Bojanala Platinum District Council. In her opening remarks Cllr Molotsi highlighted the importance of this timely workshop, ahead of COP 17 in Durban and recognised the need for local officials as custodians of the local environment with a duty and responsibility to the community within which they were elected to contribute positively towards South Africa’s future.

Bojanala Platinum District Municipality have undertaken many exciting initiatives in the build up to COP 17, including, but not limited to:

- Rigorous tree planting campaign that aims to plant 3000 trees by the end of December 2011. To date they have planted 27,000 drought resistant trees and on 25 November will be adding to their existing efforts with councillors gathering to plant an additional 500 indigenous trees and 300 fruit trees within the district

- Rehabilitation of streams

- Local energy audits in four villages considered highly vulnerable to climate change - Clean up campaigns in each of the local municipalities

- Introduction of recycling bins in one local municipality, with the view to role this scheme out to the remaining local municipalities

- Implementation of a community focused climate change awareness raising campaign

Councillors recognised that to proactively address the impacts of climate change within their district municipality they need to integrate their environmental and planning departments to cooperate collectively to address the future challenges they will face at a local level.

In addition, they recognised the pivotal role that local governments play in addressing the impacts of climate change at a local level towards a sustainable future.