South Africa – Johannesburg
According to an interview with the Marketing Manager of BIC SAF, Bridgette Mandava, the biggest problems in Johannesburg include a lack of a supply of freshwater, relying upon coal for energy, deforestation, and overfishing.
South Africa has put in many laws, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the National Water Act, in order to control pollution, air and water quality, and conserving biodiversity. By 2020, they hope to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 34% and by 42% in 2025. Although coal is 80% of the energy resource used, by 2030 they hope to create a mix of energy sources including nuclear, coal, and renewable energy.
On a less political side, the NRF has members who take part in recycling programs such as formal, governmental, regional, local, and advise companies and schools, as well as families, which is called PRASA. They educate children and adults through the Rhodes University and the University of Cape Town which both have environmental courses. Students have classes on the basics on the environment and some schools recycle and do community projects.There are many green products in stores and on online sites such as “green goods”. Solar panels are more accessible to the population and therefore is becoming more popular but many still cannot afford it. Electric cars are new to the country and were first launched in 2013 but are also expensive to the public.They have a lot of public transportation such as buses and trains, which are more eco-friendly than cars and are used more often because they are cheaper. Money has been given to fund environmental-friendly jobs and to the Green Fund which works with private sectors.