We, the participants of the City Energy Strategies Conference, having met in Cape Town from 19 to 22 November 2003,

Considering the criticality of energy services as a vital component for the economic development of our cities,

Recognizing conventional fossil fuels based resources are finite, and that energy services have both direct and indirect impacts on the global, regional, and local environments, causing pollution and ecological damage in its production and use,

Acknowledging that cities face an energy services crisis as we strive to develop our economies and face the challenge of sustainable development,

Recognizing cities are the major consumers of energy and have a critical role in leading the way towards sustainable energy solutions,

Appealing to all stakeholders at the local, regional, governmental and intergovernmental levels for development, support and implementation of an energy management strategy based on equity, efficiency and sustainability,

Realizing that local energy initiatives need to be linked to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) outcomes and partnerships, and to its Plan of Implementation

Do hereby declare that …

We have shared our views and understanding of sustainable energy management strategies. We have discussed the need to measure the quality and quantity of energy supply in our cities and assess the impacts of efforts to improve it, in order to ensure applicability, equity, acceptability, and ownership of energy at the local level.

We therefore call for a sustainable energy vision that would guide the development of a framework, within which cities and stakeholders can assess and prioritize policies and measures which realizes the vision.

We have explored the many facets of sustainable energy services, and its relevance to all aspects of urban management and the delivery of urban goods and services

We therefore call for integrated resource planning to promote affordable, efficient, appropriate, safe, and renewable energy services.

We have identified the need to build on existing and ongoing efforts to incorporate the tenets of sustainable energy services into aspects of city management (policies, programmes, projects, and plans). The application of sustainable energy practices requires action by all urban stakeholders.

We therefore call for education and awareness raising programmes on energy issues, and for the establishment of a cities energy network for exchange of knowledge and information.

Cape Town, South Africa
21 November 2003

This conference challenges South African city municipalities to strive for the following targets:

And requests that national and provincial government, industry and commerce support and work in partnership with local government to achieve these.

1. Develop an integrated energy strategy for their cities by 2006
2. Diversify their supply to include renewable and cleaner energy sources with a target of 10% by 2020
3. Implement green procurement policies by 2006
4. Reduce energy consumption by at least 20% in all municipal operations by 2005
5. Pass legislation requiring solar water heaters and insulation in all new middle to high income housing by 2005
6. Ensure that all low-income formal housing has insulated ceilings - new housing by 2005, retrofit existing by 2007, and build houses to be energy efficient.
7. Include dedicated bicycle lanes on at least 20% of roads, and enforced bus-lanes by 2010.
8. Develop public demonstration centers and programmes for sustainable energy.

SACN, SALGA, ICLEI, SEA, UNEP and other organizations commit themselves to supporting and assisting municipalities to reach these targets.

South African Cities Network: www.sacities.net