EDITOR’S COLUMN
Giving low carbon
the green light
WHAT’S ON
7 November 2018
Manufacturing Indaba
Western Cape
Century City Convention Centre,
Cape Town
www.manufacturingindaba.co.za
20 to 21 February 2019
KZN Construction Expo
Durban Exhibition Centre, Durban
www.kzn-construction.co.za
11 to 13 June 2019
African Construction and
Totally Concrete Expo
Gallagher Convention Centre,
Midrand, Johannesburg
www.totallyconcrete.co.za
A
cleaner greener future is no longer a
pipe dream as key global cities have
significantly reduced their
greenhouse gas emissions.
Amidst growing economies and rising
population levels, 27 of the world’s greatest
cities have seen their greenhouse gas
emissions fall over a five-year period,
achieving at least a 10% reduction on their
peak emissions.
Representing 54 million urban citizens and
USD6-trillion in GDP, 27 of the C40 Cities
network – including the likes of Barcelona,
London, New York City, Paris, Rome and
Sydney – have continued to decrease
emissions by an average of 2% a year since
their peak, while populations grew by 1.4%
a year, and their economies by 3% a year
on average.
C40 Cities connects 96 of the world’s
greatest cities to take bold climate action,
leading the way towards a healthier and
more sustainable future. C40 and Arup’s
Deadline 2020 research stipulates that cities
in Europe, North America and Australia must
peak their emissions by no later than 2020,
with all global cities reaching the same
milestone by around 2030.
C40’s analysis reveals that these 27 cities
had already peaked their emissions before
2012, the latest year for which peaking can be
identified. Many more cities worldwide are
also on track to peak their emissions by 2020.
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NOVEMBER 2018
CLADDING // CONCRETE // INSULATION // STEEL // THATCH // TIMBER // TRANSLUCENT // WATERPROOFING // COMPONENTS
According to the C40 Cities network, data
reveals concrete evidence that many cities
are on schedule to achieve the 2020
milestone, crucial to delivering their share of
the Paris Agreement goals in keeping global
temperature increase to 1.5°C. Scientists
have calculated that global greenhouse gas
emissions need to peak by 2020 at the latest
and then come down very steeply. At present,
global emissions are still rising.
To date, mayors of more than 60 C40 cities
have publicly committed to develop and
begin implementing ambitious climate
action plans by 2020 that go beyond national
commitments. These plans will see many
more cities achieve peak emissions in the
coming years and become emissions-neutral
by no later than 2050.
Daniel Zarrilli, New York City’s chief climate
policy advisor, says the actions taken by
cities around the world are further proof that
local governments are leading the way in
confronting the biggest challenge of our time.
He adds, “Together, we are taking the bold
and decisive steps needed to meet the goals
of the Paris Agreement and create a safer,
more sustainable future.”
As a C40 member, South Africa has the
potential to join the global greenhouse gas
reduction drive through smart and
sustainable green building. How will our built
environment contribute towards the
movement? The choice is ours…
24 to 26 July 2019
KwaZulu-Natal Industrial
Technology Exhibition (KITE)
Durban Exhibition Centre, Durban
www.kznindustrial.co.za
29 July to 1 August 2020
Interbuild Africa
Johannesburg Expo Centre,
Nasrec, Johannesburg
www.interbuild.co.za
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Candace Sofianos King | senior writer
[email protected]
www.saroofing.co.za