Cape Town in 2030: Envisioning 1.5-Degree Lifestyles

Published on February 18, 2022

'Cape Town in 2030: Envisioning 1.5-Degree Lifestyles' shares findings of the ‘Envisioning Future Low-Carbon Lifestyles and Transitioning Instruments’ demonstration project, 2019-2021. This project was implemented under the United Nations’ One Planet network and funded by the Government of Japan through its contribution to the 10YFP Trust Fund, administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This project is led by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan, in collaboration with Akatu Institute, Brazil; Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; ICLEI Africa, South Africa; Swechha, India; Hot or Cool Institute, Germany; ICLEI, Japan; Science Communications and Research Institute (SCRI), Japan; D-mat, Finland; National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan.

This report, ‘Cape Town in 2030’, recommends some plausible options for 1.5-Degree Lifestyles and measures to support them. This will put society on a path towards realising the globally unified 1.5-Degree Lifestyles target of 2.5 t-CO2e/capita/year, which is compatible with the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Based on an assessment of consumption data across housing, food, mobility, goods, services and leisure, it is calculated that the average lifestyle carbon footprint in Cape Town is currently 9.2t-CO2e/capita/year, comparable to South Africa’s national average, and well above the global average of 4.3t-CO2e/capita/year. The domains, in order of highest climate impact in Cape Town are food (45% contribution), housing (22%), mobility (12%), goods (12%), services (5%) and leisure (4%). Reducing the lifestyle carbon footprint is only feasible through a combination of measures on both the production and consumption side. This document aims to provide ideas for a diverse range of citizens to realise 1.5°C Lifestyles, while noting that adoption rates are only indicative figures, and not future projections or targets. Sustainable lifestyles are a key part of SDG 12: sustainable consumption and production, more specifically in the target 12.8 that says “By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature”. Also this project is part of the 10YFP Trust Fund which is also part of SDG 12, in its target 12.1 “Implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries”.