eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba convened the second Municipal Forum for Climate Change meeting on May 5.

At the meeting municipal leadership, sector experts and stakeholders deliberated on key climate policy frameworks such as:

1. Global developments, and
2. Implementation priorities shaping the City’s climate response.

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eThekwini became the first municipality to set up a governance structure of this nature, in accordance with section 9 of the Climate Change Act and Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act.

New forum aims to enhance local governance coordination

Xaba said the establishment of the eThekwini Municipal Forum on Climate Change is a historic step in strengthening co-ordinated climate governance at local government level.

“By bringing together organised labour, business, civil society, traditional leadership and other stakeholders, we are ensuring that our climate response is inclusive, informed, and aligned with the principles of a just transition to a climate resilient and low carbon future,” said Xaba.

He said climate change is a present reality and the municipality is enhancing its preparedness, strengthening infrastructure resilience, and mobilising partners to protect communities, safeguard essential services, and reduce climate-related risks.

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“As climate risks intensify, we must also innovate. eThekwini is committed to exploring the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, alongside Indigenous Knowledge Systems, to improve climate planning, early warning systems and resilience. These considerations will form part of our upcoming climate change policy review,” he added.

Central to the discussions was the Durban Climate Change Strategy (DCCS), presented by Dr Luyanda Mafumbu, the Deputy Director, Climate Change.

The City aims to build climate-resilient infrastructure

The DCCS remains the City’s overarching framework guiding climate action across adaptation, mitigation and a just transition.

The Strategy reinforces eThekwini’s commitment to building climate resilience, while pursuing inclusive economic development and improved service delivery.

Key focus areas include:

• Water security
• Coastal protection
• Biodiversity
• Food systems
• Public health
• Sustainable transport and energy transition supported by:
• Strong governance,
• Climate finance and institutional capacity building.

According to a statement from eThekwini, the forum also reflected on the key outcomes of COP30, presented by Pemy Gasela, Chief Director: International Climate Change Relations and Reporting.

“Outcomes relevant to municipalities include strengthened commitments to adaptation finance, common indicators for tracking resilience, and renewed emphasis on locally-led climate action.

“These developments present opportunities for metros such as eThekwini to align global climate commitments with concrete, on the ground delivery,” eThekwini said in a statement.

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Discussions further highlighted the settlement resilience assessment framework, which provides a structure as evidence-based approach to strengthening resilience in informal and vulnerable settlements.

Cogta representative delivers keynote address

Presented by Lisa Delgrande, and Dr Kiara Rampaul representing the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department (Cogta), the framework emphasised community-centred assessments, recognising that the impacts of climate change are felt most acutely at local level.

Participants noted the importance of participatory processes to ensure that climate interventions respond to lived realities and prioritise the most at risk communities.

Collectively, the discussions affirmed a clear strategic alignment: global climate frameworks, municipal strategies and community level tools must work together to drive meaningful impact.

“Through the Durban Climate Change Strategy, alignment with COP outcomes and settlement focused resilience planning, eThekwini continues to demonstrate leadership in advancing climate-resilient, inclusive and sustainable urban development,” eThekwini said.

Speaker of Council Thabani Nyawose, thanked participants and reiterated the political will of council to ensure that the City and its residents are resilient against the impacts of climate change.

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