The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Jack Sekwaila, along with Breathe Cities Executive Director Jaime Pumarejo and EISD Executive Director Tebogo Modiba, officially launched the Breathe Cities Johannesburg initiative on Friday, 6 September 2024, at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre.
Breathe Cities is a groundbreaking programme that is part of a global effort to improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance public health in urban areas. The launch coincides with the City’s annual Clean Air Week, observed from 2 to 6 September 2024, as well as the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, celebrated annually on 6 September.
Developed by the Clean Air Fund, C40 Cities, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, Breathe Cities integrates air quality data, community involvement, and leadership from city officials to achieve a 30% reduction in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions across participating cities by 2030. The initiative, launched in June 2023 by Michael R Bloomberg, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions, and Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, aims to break down barriers to clean air and ensure communities have access to healthier environments.
The programme is projected to prevent 39,000 premature deaths and eliminate 284 megatons of CO2e emissions globally. Breathe Cities is currently active in eleven cities worldwide, including Accra, Brussels, Jakarta, Johannesburg, London, Milan, Nairobi, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sofia, and Warsaw.
Delivering the keynote address, Cllr Sekwaila said: “We acknowledge that the city’s challenges should not overshadow our commitment to environmental sustainability. Our drive to improve living conditions must be supported by resilience to climate risks and continuous environmental improvement. Air quality in the city is of particular concern, especially during the winter months.”
Sekwaila highlighted the link between climate change and poor air quality, noting that rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns exacerbate pollution, leading to health impacts, infrastructure challenges, and reduced quality of life. “Addressing air pollution is a crucial step in our broader efforts to combat climate change and build a resilient city,” he added.
The city is working with partners such as C40 and Breathe Cities to invest in data generation that informs targeted interventions and supports policies to improve air quality. “We are grateful to C40, Clean Air Fund, and Breathe Cities for their support in identifying specific areas of work for Johannesburg,” Sekwaila noted.
Jaime Pumarejo, Executive Director of Breathe Cities, emphasised the significance of Johannesburg’s involvement: “We are thrilled to have Johannesburg join Breathe Cities and work together to ensure cleaner, healthier air for all. Our objective is to assist the city in revising its Air Quality Management Plan by conducting a source apportionment study to strengthen its data component.”
Tebogo Modiba highlighted the broader significance of the initiative: “As we launch the Breathe Cities Programme, we are turning a new page in our fight for cleaner air and healthier urban environments. This programme represents a bold commitment to innovation, collaboration, and proactive leadership in tackling air pollution.”
As South Africa’s first Breathe City, Johannesburg is seizing the opportunity to work with stakeholders to enhance air quality and demonstrate leadership in action on environmental health and sustainability.
Written by Dudu Lushaba
06/09/2024
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