Author(s)

J. Nel, G. Nel & E. Snyman

Abstract

Towards sustainability: reducing energy consumption and carbon emission footprints - examples and lessons learned from Potchefstroom, a medium sized African city J. Nel, G. Nel & E. Snyman Centre for Environmental Management, Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, South Africa Abstract Less than 200 years since human beings began emitting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, global concentrations of these gases are increasing at an alarming rate. As a result of the acceleration in the rate of GHG emissions, the total concentration of GHG's in the atmosphere has increased by 30% since preindustrial times. Especially since the late eighties the international community became increasingly concerned with the future impacts of anthropogenic GHG emissions. Scientists are predicting that increases in GHG levels may result in elevated average global temperatures, changes in regional precipitation rates, increased incidence and intensity of extreme weather events, and a rise in sea levels

Keywords