The Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (GDARDE) has launched a project to help protect residents against climate change and Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) is supporting the project.
According to Themba Gadebe from the office of the MEC for Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, the GDARDE planted more than 600 000 trees from 2022 to date. The types of trees planted include among other peach, mango and moringa trees.
“This project aims to protect the environment and it has already gathered stakeholders such as the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Green Development Foundation, and the International Union for Conservation and Nature. The department is working to rectify the backlog of 13 947 trees to continue with carbon sequestration in the province.”
Gadebe further emphasised that the department asserts various measures to reduce carbon emissions. This includes fining industries producing excessive emissions.
“These organisations become liable to pay fines through buying trees to atone for the pollution, and in the process advance the course to mitigate the impact of climate change as a collective societal responsibility,” Gadebe stated.
Furthermore, the department plans to intervene through the Gauteng Industrial Symbiosis Programme (GISP).
“The department assures Gauteng residents of its relentless fidelity to protecting the environment,” Gadebe concluded.
RWCLM spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa confirmed that the GDARDE is one of the municipality’s biggest sponsors in terms of donating trees. He added that the GDARDE donated 3 250 trees in 2023 alone to continue with carbon sequestration.
“RWCLM is mandated to ensure our industries comply with the Air Quality Management Act, through planned and ad-hoc inspections,” Montshiwa claimed.
Montshiwa further stated that RWCLM also participates in the GISP as well as the Climate Change Forum.
“The GDARDE climate change officials are also participating in the RWCLM Climate Change Advisory Committee,” Montshiwa concluded.
