What is climate change?

Climate change, the observed increased temperature of the Earth over several decades, is associated with an increased concentration of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. These include carbon dioxide, which results from burning fossil fuels such as coal when used in electricity generation.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the earth’s average temperature has increased by more than 0,18 degrees Celsius in the last 100 years. The eight warmest years since 1850 occurred in the late 90s, with the warmest year being 2005. On average, South African weather stations showed an increase of 0,2° C during the 1990s.

City of Tshwane’s major polluting activities

1. Transport
   
   Transport accounts for 36 percent of energy demand within the City. As a result of our reliance on fossil fuels, this translates to more emissions of greenhouse gases. Much of the fleet is not energy-efficient, and there are no alternative cleaner fuels for vehicles.
   
   
2. Industry and commerce
   
   Most industries and commercial buildings burn coal for their boilers and other energy needs. This leads to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which causes global warming, since carbon dioxide traps heat escaping the Earth’s surface.
   
   
3. Households
   
   Many poor households rely on burning coal for cooking and space heating, especially in winter. The vast majority of households are not built with energy efficiency principles in mind.
   
   
4. Electricity generation and distribution
   
   95 percent of electricity in South Africa, including the City of Tshwane, is generated from coal-fired power stations. Most of the generated electricity is lost through the distribution lines. Burning coal for electricity generation releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
   
   
5. Other municipal services
   
   Municipal services that can contribute to energy efficiency programmes include solid waste and water treatment plants and other methods of waste disposal.

How to make a difference

1. Policy level
   
   Climate change mitigation and adaptation must be integrated into development policies of the City. Policy makers, decision makers and politicians must influence the adoption of the principles of sustainable development, environmental justice, community well-being and empowerment and ecological integrity within the City’s urban development path.
   
   
2. Individual level
   
   Climate change may be a big problem, but there are many things we can do to make a difference. Since many greenhouse gases come from things we do every day, we can all play a part in reducing the amount of greenhouse gases we put into the atmosphere.
   
   
3. Save Electricity
   
   Make a difference by turning off lights, the television and the computer when not they are not in use.
   
   
4. Save Water
   
   Save water where you can – it is still one of the most valuable natural resources.
   
   
5. Prevent pollution
   
   
   • Don’t litter or pollute the environment.
   • Ride a bicycle, take a bus, walk and practice car pooling. You can save energy by using public transport, riding a bike or walking. People use less energy by driving together.
   
   
6. Plant trees
   
   Planting trees is fun and a great way to reduce greenhouse gases. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air.
   
   
7. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

• Buy products in reusable containers
• Bring your own bags to stores
• Recycle cans, bottles, plastic bags and newspapers. When you recycle, you send less trash to the landfill and you help save natural resources, like trees, oil and elements such as aluminium.
• Consider buying the right products
• Energy-saving products, such as TVs and computers, have special labels on them that indicate that they are energy-efficient.
• Using solar panels is much cheaper in the long run and saves the environment.
• Talk to your family and friends
• Talk about climate change and let them know what you’ve learned.
• Read more!

One of the biggest things you can do is staying informed.

Some initiatives within the City of Tshwane

• Development of the Green Buildings Incentive Scheme and Bylaws.
• Solar water heaters installations in Olievenhoutbosch and Winterveldt.
• 500 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bottles were distributed in Winterveldt.
• More than eight kilometres of bicycle lanes were constructed in Atteridgeville.
• Plans for the development of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) are at the advanced stage.
• Streetlights are fitted with energy-saving bulbs on refurbishment.
• The feasibility study has been completed to generate electricity from land-fill gas.
• Traffic lights are being retrofitted with light emitting diodes (LEDs).
• There are five permanent and eight street boxes of air quality monitoring stations.
• Retrofitting of municipal buildings with energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies installations.