ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY RECOGNISED AS A GLOBAL LEADER IN CLIMATE ACTION
EThekwini Municipality has been recognised as a global leader in climate action, earning a place on the 2025 Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Cities A-List, a prestigious global platform for reporting climate action.
The Municipality has also secured its 2025 Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy badge achievements, representing the world’s largest alliance of cities committed to addressing climate change.
EThekwini is one of only three African cities to achieve a CDP A rating, the highest possible score for environmental transparency and climate leadership.
The other two cities are Tshwane and Cape Town.
The CDP A score recognises cities that demonstrate global best practice in climate action, transparency, and data-driven governance.
EThekwini achieved A-List status by demonstrating excellence in:
• Strategic planning: Advancing climate action planning to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
• Risk management: Completing comprehensive climate risk and vulnerability assessments aligned to international standards.
• Transparency: Maintaining a city-wide greenhouse gas emissions inventory and publicly disclosing climate data.
This milestone builds on the Municipality’s 2019 A-List recognition, reaffirming eThekwini’s sustained commitment to climate transparency, strong governance, and meaningful implementation of climate programmes.
EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba welcomed the honour, adding that it affirms the Municipality’s dedication to building a resilient, low-carbon and inclusive city.
“As one of only three African cities to achieve the highest A rating from CDP, the Municipality is demonstrating that climate action and economic development must go hand in hand. We remain committed to protecting our communities, strengthening infrastructure resilience and positioning eThekwini as a leader in sustainable urban governance on the African continent,” said Mayor Xaba.
He further noted that the recognition follows the City’s recent naming by Time Out Worldwide as one of the world’s top 100 travel destinations for 2026, where eThekwini was ranked 14th.
This highlights the growing importance of climate-resilient infrastructure, liveability and sustainability in enhancing investment appeal and shaping cities of the future.
The Municipality will continue to implement and monitor local climate action programmes, deepen strategic partnerships, and integrate climate considerations into infrastructure planning and investment decisions.
These efforts are aimed at strengthening community resilience, supporting sustainable economic growth, and ensuring long-term environmental and fiscal sustainability.
ENDS
Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate
