Article by Gavin W. Maneveldt
Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology,
University of the Western Cape
and CapeNature
transport and other resource-use
inefficiencies, is leading to extensive
environmental degradation and
biodiversity loss, declines in agricultural crop production, and associated deterioration in social and economic conditions. To address these
challenges at the provincial level,
the Western Cape Government formulated ‘Strategic Objective 7’ to
ensure integration of sustainability
and resource-use efficiencies into
the activities and sphere of influence of all its Departments
(Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Agriculture,
Transport and Public Works, Housing). Within the strategy, six key
policy priorities inform the actions
to be taken to ensure the efficient
use of provincial resources. These
include climate change mitigation,
water management, pollution and
waste management, biodiversity
management, land-use management and agriculture, and the built
environment. To accomplish these
actions, the province has developed
various green initiatives and strategies. Just some of these include: the
Green Economy Strategy Framework, Green is Smart (to become
the leading green economic hub on
the African continent); 110% Green
(calling organisations to commit to
the Green Economy); the Genius of
Place Project (finding innovative
solutions to address water pollution); and the Give Green Initiative
(to encourage the procurement of
environmentally friendly, sustainable and locally produced products).
In September of 2013, the Western
Cape Government launched the
Western Cape Design Strategy
(WCDS). Alongside the green economy, IT and broadband, and strategic infrastructure, the WCDS identified design and related activities as
one of the four key drivers to harness the economic growth potential
in the Western Cape. It is estimated
that currently about 80,000 people
work in the design industry in the
Western Cape, contributing roughly
R14-Billion a year to South Africa’s
Gross Domestic Product. This contribution is expected to increase significantly as the Western Cape
strives to be the lowest carbon
province in South Africa.
Municipal
With the highest reported standard
of living of all South African cities,
the City of Cape Town is rich in heritage, diversity, innovation and creative talent. In keeping with the
province’s Green Economy Strategy
Framework, the City of Cape Town
has had a number of city-specific
gre en design policies, strategies and
guidelines in place. Some of these
include the Early Childhood Development Land Use Policy, Urban Design Policy, Boundary Walls and
Fences Policy, Cellular Telecommunications Infrastructure Policy, Densification Policy, Gated Development Policy, Guest Accommodation
Policy, Investment Incentive Policy,
Land Use Enforcement Policy, Model Land Use Planning & Development Conditions handbook, Sky
Bridges Policy and Tall Building Policy, with associated design guidelines. Too numerous to list, below
are some of the green examples (in
chronological order) scattered
across the province.
The Quality Public Spaces (QPS)
programme was conceptualised
during 2006 as an attempt to create a 2010 Soccer World Cup legacy, the aim of which was to develop
23 quality public open spaces
spread across the metropolitan area. Sites were identified based on
various spatial and socio-economic
criteria and are concentrated almost
exclusively in historically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The QPS
comprise play areas, parks and
open spaces to promote social,
physical and mental well-being.