Re-imagining Africa's capital cities for the prosperity of the continent and its people

Set to attract mayoral representatives and high-level delegations from African capital cities to the City of Tshwane, under personal invitation by the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Councillor Kgosientso Ramokgopa, the forum is geared to maintain the momentum established at last year’s inaugural event, imploring African mayors to make good on the Tshwane Declaration signed at the 2015 event, which stated in part:

“We, Mayors of African Capital Cities, gathered at the City of Tshwane, the Capital City of South Africa from 23 to 25 June 2015 hereby declare to advance sustainability within the African continent through ground breaking initiatives; noting the current global challenges that threaten growth and development in our cities, especially those related to climate change, global economic slowdown, trade facilitation, connectivity, land degradation caused by mining activities and water shortages; committing to convene annually as leaders of Capital Cities in Africa to take stock of our progress and consolidate our positions in urban sustainability; accepting the offer by the City of Tshwane to host the next annual gathering during their Sustainability Week conference in June 2016; realising the unique role of capital cities in providing leadership for other local authorities within country boarders; recognising the importance of partnerships and collaborative efforts in the implementation of sustainability programmes; further recognising that while we look towards international policies and national legislative prescripts for policy directives, real action can only happen at a local sphere of government.”

Building on this Declaration, ACCSF 2016 gives delegates the opportunity to re-commit to increased sustainability leadership roles in their cities; to deliberate, discuss, share and learn from shared local and international experiences and perspectives across numerous disciplines and sectors.

“African cities have the propensity to rise up as the world’s most liveable cities,” says Councillor Ramokgopa. “Together we are armed with a shared wisdom supported by appropriate policies, by design ingenuity, innovation, technical proficiency, robust implementation mechanisms and adequate infrastructural investments that can enable our citizens to prosper in healthy urban environments, with low cost futures tied to efficient circular green economies; where non-technical innovation is a trigger for competitiveness and economic prosperity.”

“As leaders in some of the most rapidly developing cities in the world, it’s our shared responsibility to ensure that our cities develop sustainably. It is up to us to ensure a positive socio-economic transformation and sustainable improvement to the living and working conditions of the people of Africa in the long term. This is arguably the most important objective for our cities, for our continent, and indeed for the planet as a whole.”

Running alongside the ACCSF will be the 10th annual Green Building Conference, the largest conference of its kind in South Africa, on 1 and 2 June 2016, with breakaway sessions on 2 June; which will focus on African approaches and leap-frog thinking to bring fresh ideas to what is fast becoming a mature market.

Other notable events and activities include: the Sustainable Infrastructure Seminar, Food Security Seminar, Green Business Seminar, Sustainability in Mining Seminar, the Green Home Fair, Vision Zero Waste Seminar, Sustainable Water Seminar, Youth & the Green Economy Seminar, Transport Energy Seminar, Transport & Mobility Seminar, the Responsible Tourism Dialogue and the Sustainable Manufacturing Seminar.

About Sustainability Week 2016

Hosted by the City of Tshwane and organized annually by Alive2Green, Sustainability Week 2016, which will run from 31 May to 5 June 2016, aims to advance the green economy through the sharing of knowledge and experience across disciplines, sectors, markets and continents, while actively seeking to develop and accelerate sustainability-oriented pipeline projects. It will also call for delegates to re-evaluate their business context and the cause and effect of actions, while further engaging on key challenges and solutions which will prove to have a catalytic effect on the green economy.

Sustainability Week 2016 is a platform whereby subject specialists from across the continent and beyond, together with public sector representatives, private sector investors, business operators, professionals, and researchers examine their respective areas of mutual interest from a sustainability perspective, whether economic, social or environmental, and exchange ideas on how to improve and encourage sustainable development in urban environments.

Registration for Sustainability Week 2016 is now open. For full delegate information, schedules, sponsor and speaker information, or for sponsorship or booking enquiries, visit www.sustainabilityweek.co.za.

For further information on the African Capital Cities Sustainability Forum (ACCSF) visit www.accsforum.org.

About Sustainability Week 2016:

In 2016, delegate access to all sessions will again be flexible, enabling individuals to structure customised programmes that suit their personal preferences. This unique approach enhances the delegate experience as people from different sectors and different places interact with each other, seeing similar challenges from different perspectives, and discovering new opportunities.

About the ACCSF 2016:

The 2nd annual African Capital Cities Sustainability Forum, led by the City of Tshwane, which welcomes high-level delegations from capital cities around the African continent to deliberate on shared experiences and perspectives, and agree on matters of leadership in relation to sustainable cities.

Media contacts:

Gaole Bogatsu
Tsa Aforika Media
az.oc.aidemakirofaast@eloag
073 368 1959