Cape Town Climate Week Concludes: A Powerful Call for Climate Justice and Community Action
Cape Town, South Africa - The third annual Cape Town Climate Week has drawn to a close after five days of impactful events, discussions, and community engagements across the city. The week-long initiative brought together activists, community leaders, and citizens to explore innovative solutions for climate justice and urban sustainability.
Cape Town Climate Week Participants after a heritage walk and talk at Princess Vlei – a treasured wetland on the Cape Flats named after a Khoe princess. All photo credits: @TheDollieHouse
Highlights of the Week
Day 1: Energy Resilience and Awareness
The week kicked off with an Energy Resilience Exhibition and a screening of the "Temperature Rising" documentary, setting the tone for discussions on a just energy future.
“Climate week for me was a fun and interactive way for us to understand the intersectional challenges we face as a city. Our focus on energy justice speaks to the daily issues people face not only here in Cape Town, but also across South Africa.” - Lorna Fuller, Director at Project 90 by 2030
Day 2: Heritage and Community Action
Activities on Heritage Day included the #IAmAnAfrican anti-xenophobia rally at the Castle of Good Hope and a walk-and-talk session at Princess Vlei, highlighting the importance of grassroots action in preserving natural heritage. As well as the way in which racialised disparities in access to green spaces and equitable forms of conservation need to be addressed.
Day 3: Sewing seeds for systemic justice
Over a hundred young people from across Cape Town participated in a planting event with Mzanzi Organics at a school in Langa emphasising the role of youth in driving system change, and the importance of food forests and urban greening.
Day 4: Urban Mobility and Spatial Justice
Participants experienced the city's spatial divides through a multi-modal journey, including cycling with Langa Bicycle Hub and engaging with Unite Behind's #FixOurTrains campaign. The day concluded with discussions on affordable housing with Ndifuna Ukwazi and Reclaim the City. The day aimed to highlight how the way we move around this city, and who gets to live with dignity in this city are all a part of our calls for climate justice.
“It is increasingly recognised that issues of climate change and its associated impacts are closely related to housing, land use planning and access to land. Indeed, where someone lives and the condition of their home has a major impact on how they experience climate change, thus explicitly acknowledging that sustainability and resilience are central to the quality, liveability and long-term positive impact of housing. However, we are yet to see this acknowledgement filter into housing discourse and practice in South Africa, and this needs to change urgently.” - Buhle Booi, Head of Political Organising at Ndifuna Ukwazi
Day 5: Food Sovereignty and Gender Justice
The final day focused on food and land justice at Vegkop Farm in the Philippi Horticultural Area, culminating in a panel discussion on gender justice and climate change at UCT's Centre for African Studies Gallery.
Melissa Britz, Triangle Project's Queer Food Growing Collective: "How we relate to each other is how we are going to build a movement. Capitalism and colonialism have convinced us that we are separate from each other and that is the root of the climate crisis."
Key Takeaways
Community-Driven Solutions: The week emphasized the critical role of grassroots action in addressing climate change and social injustice.
Intersectionality of Climate Issues: Events highlighted the connections between climate justice, spatial justice, food security, and gender equality.
Urban Mobility: Discussions underscored the importance of addressing spatial apartheid and having accessible public transport in creating a more equitable and sustainable city.
Youth leadership: Young people's involvement throughout the week demonstrated their crucial role in shaping a more just and sustainable future.
Cultural Heritage: The integration of heritage sites and cultural practices in climate discussions reinforced the importance of preserving local cultural identities and solutions while addressing global challenges.
Looking Ahead
While Cape Town Climate Week has concluded, organizers and participants alike view this as just the beginning of a broader movement towards a more just and sustainable city. The events have sparked new collaborations, ideas, and commitments to action that are expected to drive continued progress in addressing climate change and social inequalities in Cape Town and beyond.
Partner organisations included Project 90 by 2030, Fossil Free South Africa, PHA Food & Farming Campaign, Mzansi Organics, Langa Bicycle Hub, Unite Behind, Ndifuna Ukwazi, Hotspot Series, GRIT (formerly Kwanele South Africa), Rainbow UCT, and Triangle Project.
