Environment and Energy
LOW CARBON CITIES
The Academy will be embarking on a consensus study on ‘Low Carbon Cities’. The overall goal of this study is to identify key areas of intervention that would position Durban on a pathway towards being a low carbon city. Specific objectives are to:
- review carbon reduction strategies in key cities around the world to identify lessons learned. This would include an examination of the actual strategies that influence carbon mitigation, the trade-offs and synergies of carbon management, the roles of institutions and carbon governance structures;
- review mitigation policies that are already in place in the city of Durban;
- identify key areas of intervention in terms of reduction in energy use and implementing energy efficiency measures. This would include, inter alia, an examination of options to improve energy efficiency in existing and new buildings; and a consideration of traffic planning;
- identify opportunities for renewable energy applications and/or cleaner fossil fuel technology;
- identify opportunities for neutralising unavoidable emissions through carbon offsetting schemes;
- consider carbon storage options;
- make recommendations on the transition to a low carbon city;
- consider the broader application of the recommendations to other cities in South Africa.
The Study will be chaired by the Executive Officer of ASSAf, Prof Roseanne Diab.
IMPROVING ENERGY ACCESS IN AFRICA
ASSAf is planning to do a forum-type study on “Improving Energy Access in Africa”. The purpose of this project is to provide a platform for discussing issues of energy access to the poor in South Africa and in Africa as a whole. The project will lay a foundation for the forthcoming African Science Academy Development Initiative (ASADI), the theme being Energy. The project should point to ways of improving energy access to the poor. It hopes to bring about possible policy solutions that might not only be applicable to South Africa, but also to other African countries. The outcome of the project will be a policy-makers booklet which will give input to dealing with energy access challenges facing the continent.
For more information, contact Dr Nthabiseng Taole at nthabiseng@assaf.org.za
