Policy Brief - Climate Change, Clean Energy, and Urban Water in Africa

South Africa faces considerable challenges in delivering sustainable and affordable water, dignified sanitation, and energy services to its people. Municipalities, which are responsible for delivering these services, are subject to environmental and economic pressures that include water scarcity, escalating electricity prices, insufficient power supply to meet demand, and skills shortages. Additionally, municipal water and wastewater treatment infrastructure is ageing and often inefficient, and South Africa is, and has historically been, dependent on fossil fuels for energy. A paradigm shift in traditional models of municipal water and sanitation supply is necessary to ensure that South Africa meets its socio-economic goals while managing the environmental effects of increased demand for essential services.

This policy brief makes recommendations to the government (national, provincial, and local) on renewable energy and energy efficiency policies related to municipal waterworks and their operations. The corresponding Best Practice Guide provides municipal officials with the tools needed to make a case for and implement clean energy interventions in their municipalities.