ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY RESPONDS TO THE GLOBAL CALL FOR CLIMATE ACTION
World Environment Day commemorated on 5 June annually is a global platform that mobilises governments, communities, businesses, and individuals to protect and restore the environment.
The 2026 theme focuses on urgent climate action and the need to rethink how societies grow, consume resources, and protect natural ecosystems for future generations.
Speaking on the significance of the day, eThekwini Municipality’s Deputy Director for Climate Change, Dr Luyanda Mafumbu, said World Environment Day serves as an important reminder that environmental sustainability remains central to economic growth, public health, social development, and disaster resilience.
“During 2025, for the first time, global average temperatures exceeded 1.5°C and the Earth is sending us clear signals through rising temperatures, severe storms, devastating floods, prolonged droughts, and biodiversity loss.
In Durban, communities have already witnessed the impact through destructive flooding, damage to infrastructure, and growing pressure on coastal ecosystems and essential services,” he said.
Against this backdrop, eThekwini Municipality continues to demonstrate leadership in environmental management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable urban development.
“The municipality’s climate response is guided by the Durban Climate Change Strategy, which integrates climate adaptation and mitigation into urban planning, infrastructure development, disaster risk reduction, and environmental management.
This includes strengthening drainage systems, protecting wetlands and coastal ecosystems, improving early warning systems, and building resilience in vulnerable communities affected by floods, droughts, and rising temperatures” said Mafumbu.
One of the municipality’s major achievements has been the strengthening of climate adaptation and disaster preparedness programmes.
Following devastating flood events experienced in recent years, the municipality intensified efforts to improve early warning systems, stormwater management, catchment rehabilitation, and climate-risk planning to better protect vulnerable communities and infrastructure.
The Municipality has further strengthened its climate resilience approach through initiatives such as the Transformative River Management Programme (TRMP), which focuses on restoring and managing river systems to reduce flood risk, improve water security, and enhance ecosystem health while creating green jobs and supporting local communities.
The TRMP has gained international recognition as a leading example of ecosystem-based climate adaptation.
It has been highlighted by global networks such as C40 Cities and ICLEI as a scalable model for urban river restoration and resilience building.
Complementing these technical interventions, eThekwini Municipality launched the Municipal Forum for Climate Change which serves as a key platform for inclusive climate action.
It brings together municipal departments, researchers, civil society, traditional leadership and the private sector to co-develop and coordinate climate responses.
The Forum ensures that climate policies are not only technically sound but also socially inclusive, reflecting local lived experiences and strengthening participatory governance in climate planning and implementation.
Through this integrated approach of combining infrastructure innovation, ecosystem restoration, and inclusive governance; the municipality continues to embed climate resilience into urban development planning, disaster risk reduction, and community empowerment.
The municipality continues to roll out environmental education and awareness programmes in schools and communities, empowering residents to become active participants in environmental protection.
Public clean-up campaigns, recycling awareness initiatives, tree planting programmes, and sustainable waste management projects continue to promote environmental responsibility across the city.
A Collective Responsibility
World Environment Day 2026 reminds us that climate action is not the responsibility of government alone. Communities, businesses, schools, civil society organisations, and individuals all have a role to play in building a sustainable and climate-resilient future.
Residents are encouraged to reduce waste and recycle responsibly, protect rivers, beaches, and natural spaces, plant trees and support greening initiatives, save water and electricity, participate in community clean-up programmes, promote environmental awareness within families and communities and take ownership of the environment and spaces they live in.
ENDS
Issued by the eThekwini Municipality's Marketing and Communications Directorate
