A total of 17 districts and local municipalities discussed climate change and how communities can improve the way they live at The Central KwaZulu-Natal Climate Change Compact (CKZNCCC), headed by the eThekwini municipality earlier this week.

The event also facilitated the formation of a climate change knowledge network among provincial municipalities to enhance cooperation regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives.

“The CKZNCCC was a learning exchange designed to facilitate dialogue that will greatly support the notion of collective action against climate change,” states eThekwini municipal spokesperson Thabo Mofokeng.

“Facilitated sessions resulted in the identification of key climate change related challenges that participating municipalities face along with ideas on how to respond to these at local and district levels.”

Delegates also participated in a study tour of climate change mitigation and adaptation projects run by the eThekwini municipality. The study tour was also open to non-CKZNCCC members and tertiary institutions.

“One of the major aspects that were discussed is the formation of a climate knowledge network,” Mofokeng says.
“It is envisaged that this will create a platform whereby local governments, tertiary institutions and experts in the field can come together to share lessons learnt, as well as generate research and gather information that will enable informed decisions to address climate change challenges that are being faced by municipalities on an ongoing basis.”

This charter now has more than 1 000 signatory cities around the globe of which 76% are African.