An investigation of how the green agenda is being integrated in the energy sector to promote urban sustainability in Johannesburg.

Abstract

The City of Johannesburg in South Africa and other global cities are on a drive to attain urban sustainability. However, the fragmented urban form of Johannesburg due to the legacy of the apartheid city spatial planning contributes to greenhouse gases emission in the city posing a challenge. Using a secondary data analysis and interviews, this study aimed to explore how the City of Johannesburg is integrating the green agenda into its energy policies to promote urban sustainability.

The research reveals that most of the City’s spatial policies and interventions do not prioritize energy efficiency as a primary objective. Instead, the policies promote inclusivity through densification and compactness to solve the fragmented urban form using a polycentric model. However, this model primarily aims at inclusivity and reducing traffic congestion placing reduction of GHG emissions as a secondary function. The study recommends that the City should formulate energy policies that are targeted at promoting urban sustainability.