The Western Cape has set a target for the province to have 15% of energy from renewable sources by 2014 and by the same year to have a 15% reduction on the 2000 levels of carbon.

At yesterdays launch the Western Cape government said it aims to have a climate change strategy which would fundamentally change how the province operates across all sectors.

They see the Western Cape becoming the “California of South Africa” as a leader in renewable energy.

Pierre Uys, MEC for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning said at yesterdays launch that tackling climate change had become a strategic priority for the Western Cape government.

At present a White Paper is being drafted on sustainable energy that could lead to a Sustainable Energy Act in the Western Cape.

One of the priorities is to reduce the provinces carbon footprint through energy efficiency development of renewable energy resources with cleaner fuel programmes for households and transport.

Uys said:  “It is very clear that climate change is happening and it’s happening now.  It is very important that we accept it and understand that climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing us”. 

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