C40: Air Quality and Climate Change with City of Johannesburg

The Air Quality and Climate Change Workshops were organised in Regions D (Ennerdale) and G (Soweto, Jabulani) of the City of Johannesburg with the support of C40 Cities and facilitated by Seriti Institute. The workshops aimed to engage Ward Council Committee Members in addressing the pressing issues around poor air quality in the areas and to gauge the level of understanding of climate change effects in their communities.

• Assess the level of understanding among Ward Council Committee Members regarding air quality and climate change.
• Identify and comprehend local challenges linked to these issues.
• Communicate the City of Johannesburg’s air quality and climate change action plans.
• Collaboratively devise potential solutions with the community to enhance air quality and address climate change challenges.

From the two day workshops, the findings from their participation the following recommendations were made:

• Education & Awareness: Develop comprehensive educational programmes and awareness campaigns to equip communities with the requisite air quality and climate change knowledge.
• Regular Communication: Establish transparent and regular communication channels between the City of Johannesburg and communities to foster improved trust and mutual accountability.
• Infrastructure Enhancement: Address environmental challenges by prioritising the improvement of runoff management infrastructure, rectifying improperly managed dump sites, enforcing bylaws, and investing in living infrastructure in the form of tree planting drives in such areas.
• Collaborative Endeavours: Encourage partnerships between civil society stakeholders, the City of Johannesburg, relevant government entities, and communities to jointly tackle challenges, nurturing comprehensive solutions.