We build local government capacity to sustainably manage regional biodiversity and ecosystem services and strengthen resilience.

Africa is the world’s most rapidly urbanising continent, with some estimates predicting a 700% increase in urban land cover between 2000 and 2030(1). The infrastructural and service delivery demands of such rapid expansion are significant. These overlay existing challenges relating to governance, poverty and inequality(2), and place further strain on urban natural assets(3), many of … Continued

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability – Cities Biodiversity Center, attended the 52nd Meeting of the Standing Committee (SC52) of the RAMSAR Convention, which took place at the RAMSAR Secretariat Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, during the week of 13th – 17th June 2016. The mission of the RAMSAR Convention is “the conservation and wise use of all … Continued

The City of Tshwane has been selected as South Africa’s Earth Hour Capital for 2016 – and this for the second year running – in recognition of the city’s low carbon and sustainability initiatives. It is now one of thirteen cities vying for the Global Earth Hour Capital title, which will be awarded at Habitat … Continued

South Africa’s capital, and long standing ICLEI member, the City of Tshwane, will be the site of national and international knowledge sharing when it hosts the 10th annual Green Building Conference on 1 and 2 June 2016. The focus at Green Building16 will be on leap-frogging straight to the lasted thinking, innovations, and technologies, enabling … Continued

Now on its third year in the continent, the Earth Hour City Challenge (EHCC) continues to expand the platform for local governments to showcase their sustainability initiatives. EHCC 2015-2016 features a mix of returning and new participating localities from South Africa, Tanzania and Rwanda. A round of inception workshops to introduce the challenge and support … Continued

ICLEI Africa is delighted to share a number of brand new resources designed to support developers and municipalities in South African and further afield to green urban infrastructure and buildings . The resources were designed through the Urban-LEDS (Urban Low Emission Development Strategies) project, with the expert assistance of MCA Urban and Environmental Planners, Steadfast … Continued

West Rand District Municipality has demonstrated a strong political commitment to protect and enhance local biodiversity by signing the Durban Commitment: Local Governments for Biodiversity. The Durban Commitment was developed, founded and signed by 21 local governments as a commitment and model by local governments for local governments, and the communities they serve, to protect and … Continued

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) is pleased to announce the unveiling of the Grootkloof Environmental Education Centre, situated in the Van der Kemp’s Kloof Nature Reserve in Port Elizabeth. This centre has been built by the local municipality with the aim of providing a venue for environmental education to the local community. Funding was allocated to … Continued

The South African Development Community (SADC) will be hosting the SADC Water Week-South Africa during a three-day event from 29 – 31 July 2015. The South African Development Community (SADC) in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation, the South African Water Research Commission and the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa will be … Continued