Durban’s pedalling to COP17
City is splashing out on new bicycle lanes and 2000 bikes for delegates: while climate marches in Joburg
Durban city bosses say that more money will be poured into extra lanes before the start of the 17th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 17) in November.
More than 20 000 international delegates are due to attend the conference from November 28 to December 9, in the middle of Durban's hot and humid summer, to assess progress on climate change.
The city council's speaker, Logie Naidoo, said Durban would challenge delegates to ditch cars and use bicycles. The lanes would link the Durban International Convention Centre and tourist attractions.
"It does not make sense to host an environmental conference and have thousands of delegates in buses and taxis," he said.
The city had ordered more than 2000 bicycles for delegates.
The central government would supply 500 bicycles and the city was approaching hotels in Durban to provide the rest. "No other city has done this before," said Naidoo.
Department of Environmental Affairs spokesman Albi Modise said the aim with the bicycles was to raise public awareness on carbon emissions.
Carlos Esteves, deputy head of the city's road system management, said the first phase of the cycle plan would cost about R15-million.
The 2000 bicycles would be donated to legacy projects after the conference.
Meanwhile…on a more serious note…
Thousands joined Earthlife protesters in a march on Eskom BHP Billington offices in Johannesburg last Friday to protest against the way in which the companies affected the environment. The march was organised by Earthlife Africa Johannesburg ahead of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Cop17) conference.
Earthlife Africa spokesperson Tristan Taylor said it wanted Eskom to voluntarily step down from South Africa's negotiating panel at the Cop17. "It doesn't make sense to have the main polluters sitting on that panel and saying they will solve those problems." He said. Eskom is a member of South Africa's official negotiating team on climate change.
Valere Tjolle
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