In a remarkable move towards a greener, more sustainable future, the City of Johannesburg has partnered with the City of Copenhagen to tackle critical environmental challenges. This exciting collaboration is centered around energy efficiency and water management and aims to drive the city’s ambitious climate goals. Recently, Johannesburg’s Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) welcomed a team of experts from Copenhagen to assess energy monitoring systems and explore the implementation of building management systems across several city facilities.
This partnership comes at a crucial time as Johannesburg works towards its Climate Action Plan (CAP), adopted by the City Council in March 2021. With a bold vision to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, Johannesburg is taking deliberate steps to reduce its carbon footprint while adapting to the effects of climate change. A key component of this mission is collaboration with other global cities committed to sustainable urban development, and Copenhagen has proven to be an ideal partner.
The partnership was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in February 2024, and both cities, as members of the C40 Cities network, share a dedication to advancing sustainable practices in urban settings. This collaboration focuses on two main areas: energy efficiency in buildings and water management, which directly support several pillars of Johannesburg’s Climate Action Plan.
Key Areas of Focus: Energy Efficiency and Water Management
As part of the memorandum, the cities have set out to address crucial climate adaptation and mitigation issues. The specific areas of collaboration include:
- Energy Efficiency in Buildings: One of the primary goals of the Johannesburg-Copenhagen partnership is to implement and expand Johannesburg’s Green Buildings Policy. This policy aims for all new public and private buildings to achieve net-zero carbon status by 2030. Additionally, retrofitting existing buildings to meet net-zero standards by 2050 is a key target, aligning closely with Copenhagen’s expertise in energy-efficient public buildings.
- Water Management: A significant focus is also placed on improving water management systems in Johannesburg, with a particular emphasis on non-revenue water, flooding, and wastewater treatment. By sharing best practices from Copenhagen, Johannesburg hopes to improve its water security and streamline its water treatment processes.
The Mission: A Week of Technical Collaboration
From February 24 to 28, 2025, a team of technical consultants from Copenhagen visited Johannesburg to carry out an in-depth assessment of the city’s energy usage and building management systems. The experts scouted 11 selected sites, ranging from the City Power Head Office to the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, the Goudkoppies Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Joburg Theatre, among others. The goal was to implement a proof of concept for energy monitoring systems and building management systems aimed at improving energy efficiency.
Lebo Molefe, Director of Air Quality and Climate Change at EISD, noted that the partnership would yield significant benefits in the long term. The anticipated outcomes of the collaboration include:
- Energy Savings: With improved energy efficiency measures, Johannesburg is looking at substantial reductions in energy consumption and operational costs.
- Optimised Facility Operations: Real-time monitoring and smart building systems will help make Johannesburg’s facilities more responsive and efficient.
- Environmental Impact: A significant reduction in the city’s carbon footprint, contributing to Johannesburg’s broader Climate Action Plan goals.
Molefe further emphasized the importance of international partnerships in enhancing local expertise. She explained that work plans were jointly compiled and submitted to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in December 2024, unlocking crucial funding for the project. The ministry’s approval in January 2025 ensured the full implementation of technical exchanges between the two cities.
Collaboration Paves the Way for a Sustainable Future
Anders Christian Lyngtorp, Chief Consultant for Energy and Innovation at the City of Copenhagen, highlighted that the mission’s core objective was to achieve substantial energy and carbon reductions in Johannesburg. He stated that Copenhagen’s expertise in energy solutions would serve as a valuable tool for driving forward Johannesburg’s climate objectives.
“This mission aims to introduce innovative energy solutions and implement strategies that will have a lasting impact on the city. We’ve identified new approaches that could significantly enhance the city’s energy management and operational efficiency,” Lyngtorp said.
In addition to the technical assessments, the mission has served as a platform for knowledge exchange between the cities, ensuring that Johannesburg’s team is equipped with the tools and knowledge to sustain the improvements long after the experts return to Copenhagen.
The outcomes of this mission are just the beginning. Over the next three years, the cities will continue to work closely together, sharing insights, refining strategies, and pursuing sustainable solutions that will not only improve Johannesburg’s environmental impact but also help position the city as a leader in urban sustainability across the globe.
Looking Ahead: The Road to a Greener Joburg
The collaboration between Johannesburg and Copenhagen offers a model for other cities striving to meet their climate goals. With energy efficiency and water management at the heart of this partnership, both cities are setting the stage for a future where sustainable living is the norm, not the exception.
As the City of Johannesburg moves forward with its ambitious Climate Action Plan, the partnership with Copenhagen stands as a testament to the power of global cooperation in tackling the environmental challenges of our time. By working together, Johannesburg and Copenhagen are not only addressing climate change but also building a resilient and sustainable future for generations to come.
