Premier Lesufi Optimistic About Gauteng’s Ability to Address Climate Change Challenges

2 December 2024

Participants at the Gauteng Climate Change Indaba

Share this story

Johannesburg, 1 December 2024

By Emmanuel Koro

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has expressed confidence that Gauteng has transitioned from addressing climate challenges through “an ad hoc programme” to a more permanent initiative led by a dedicated team and department which acts against climate change.

 Lesufi was speaking at the Gauteng Climate Change Indaba at the Birchwood Hotel’s OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg last week.

“I am proud to be the first premier in the entire country to establish a department dedicated to climate change,” he said.

 Looking to the future, Premier Lesufi identified two critical areas for Gauteng’s socio-economic development: climate change and artificial intelligence.

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, delivering the keynote address at the Gauteng Climate Indaba last week

 “If we can’t adapt to these two challenges, we risk losing the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in society,” he said.

 He emphasised the importance of Gauteng’s central role in the country’s economy, saying, “We must step up to seize the benefits or risk losing out in these processes.”

Premier Lesufi highlighted the urgent need for action, explaining to the Gauteng climate change team that the profound effects of climate change mean they have a responsibility to protect their society.

He added that they must plan for the future and align themselves with current realities, noting, “the cost of inaction on climate change in South Africa is enormous [job losses, collapse of agricultural production and public infrastructure through drought and floods].”

“We cannot afford to fail, especially with so many expectations from our people and institutions that rely on us to fulfil their aspirations,” he said.

“In the fight against climate change, failure is not an option.”

Electric cars on show at the Gauteng Climate Change Indaba

He said Gauteng Province “needs to have the skills and the infrastructure to migrate and adapt  to” using electric vehicles by 2030 to reduce climate-change-causing carbon emissions.

Premier Lesufi said, “One day, we want to tell our grandchildren that we contributed to these ideas [climate change reducing innovations].”

About the writer: Emmanuel Koro is Johannesburg-based international award-winning journalist who writes independently on environmental and developmental issues.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Last Posts

President Putin announces Easter ceasefire

President of Russia Vladimir Putin announces Easter ceasefire

Share this story

Share this storyDuring a meeting at the Kremlin with the Chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov President Vladimir Putin declared that the Russian Side is ceasing all military action starting…

2 December 2024

On April 17, 2025, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a telephone conversation

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has a phone conversation with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio

Share this story

Share this storyOn April 17, 2025, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a telephone conversation. Secretary Rubio, who is currently in Paris, informed the Russian side…

2 December 2024

In the first installment of the Two Shores Dialogue series, two journalists — Ma Jiaying from China and Héribert Adjovi from Africa — exchange insights on the pressing issues of our time: rising trade protectionism, the shifting global order, and the long-term consequences of tariff wars. Reflecting on the legacy of the Bandung Conference, they advocate for renewed solidarity among the Global South, grounded in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. A powerful, thoughtful dialogue that bridges continents and visions.

Beyond the tariff crisis, it’s time to take a fair look at globalisation… 70 years after the Bandung Conference

Share this story

Share this story‘A LOOK FROM BOTH SIDES’ is first and foremost an interesting Dialogue between two Friends, two eminent Journalists and a crossed vision of two media professionals, one Chinese and the other African (Beninese)…

2 December 2024

South-Africas-Government-of-Natiomall-Unity-on-the-brink-of-collapse-Picture-credit-Malawi-24.

THERE’S A SENSE THAT SA’S GNU IS TEETERING ON THE EDGE COLLAPSE

Share this story

Share this storyBy ABBEY MAKOE By all accounts, South Africa’s conundrum that is the Government of National Unity (GNU) will likely fester into a debilitating wound before it gets healed anytime soon. The revelation of…

2 December 2024

The world has now become irreversibly multipolar, a reality America’s ruling elites are refusing to accept.Photo | Mandar Pardika

US-China trade war: Standing up to the playground bully

Share this story

Share this storyToday’s China is not yesterday’s Soviet Union. Nor is Trump’s America the sole superpower. Anyone trying to push back the clock of history will get hurt https://www.newindianexpress.com/author/sudheendra-kulkarni The global tariff ‘war’ unleashed by…

2 December 2024

Panelists speak during the "Critical Raw Materials in the Age of Competition" session held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, in Antalya, Turkiye on April 12, 2025.

Critical raw materials in age of competition discussed at Antalya Diplomacy Forum

Share this story

Share this storyPanel addresses geopolitical, economic, strategic importance of underground resources Sercan Irkin and Zehra Nur Celik  |13.04.2025 – Update : 13.04.2025 ANTALYA, Türkiye The “Critical Raw Materials in the Age of Competition” panel was…

2 December 2024

Related Stories