Energising South African Cities & Towns - City Energy Support Unit

S t e p 1DESIGNATING A ‘LEAD’OFFICE & NURTURINGA CHAMPIONEVERY CITY department must get involvedin planning the city’s sustainablefuture. This guarantees that all staff supportthe concept and understand what itmeans for the way in which they work.An in-house advisory group orsteering committee can also helpbuild commitment, but there mustbe leadership and direction comingfrom one primary office. Champions(people with commitment, charismaS t e p 2and power) play a vital role in capturingpeople’s imagination and gettingbuy in. Try to find both political andofficial champions. You will also findthat champions emerge along the way– grab them!Be strategic about selecting yourlead office: it could be the office ofthe mayor, IDP/strategic planning orenvironment, for example. There areopportunities for co-operating: onedepartment could lead the developmentof the energy plan, while anotherdepartment – or several – could leadthe implementation.In addition to an overall champion,you might need a champion for eachsector (residential, transport, electricity,commercial and local authority).Together they can form a City EnergyPartnership. A sector can be led by asuitable external organisation as well.ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIPSPARTNERSHIPS bring expertise,resources, support and information.As energy is cross-cutting, itneeds a partnership approach, soat the outset you need to developthese with organisations and evenother cities and networks (see alsoStep 6, Building Support).When thinking about partnerships,ask yourself what NGOs,community groups, businesses,utilities and other associationscan support your planning?Which groups can help buildyour in-house capacity and provideadditional expertise?Are there parastatal, national,provincial or local technical resourcesthat can assist you inyour planning and implementationefforts? Possibilities include NGOs,energy efficiency programmes andclimate change programmes (localand international).LOCAL ACTIONS THAT SUPPORT SUSTAINABILIT Y• Become role model energy consumers in the operation of municipal facilities, vehicle fleets andmass transport.• Regulate and plan for efficient energy use through local land use that affects the patterns ofresidential, commercial and industrial development.• Work with local utilities to set targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency systems.• Promote carpooling, cycling, the use of public transport and walking through land-use planning,parking management, improved bicycle and pedestrian access and public transport provision.• Institute local government fleet km per litre standards to promote fuel efficiency.• Plan and implement a public and staff education programme, publicising the benefits of individuallifestyle and business changes.QUESTIONS TO ANSWERBEFORE YOU GET STARTED1. What city department should lead your planning activities?2. Should you pass a city council resolution to kick off planning activities?Or wait until you have tangible goals and objectives to discuss?3. What city departments might be the most active participants in the process?4. Who will you approach to be your planning and implementation partners?6 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS