The accolades for Cape Town keep pouring in. And theyBre not only there in recognition of the natural beauty and cultural diversity of this iconic South African city, but because they acknowledge Cape TownBs cutting edge programme to become one of the global leaders in environmental sustainability.
The Mother City, facing spatial and economic constraints to development, has recently been earmarked as one of the cities in the world most likely to become a global sustainability centre by 2020. And it is not the locals who have waved this wand - it is the New York-based centre of business ethics and social responsibility, the Ethisphere Institute, that has paid this attractive urban centre the highest of compliments.
Cape Town is in good company and will be rubbing shoulders with urban giants like Toronto, Hyderabad, Singapore, New York, London and Frankfurt - all other major cities that have been elevated to the same category as Cape Town.
Cape Town is determined to meet its lofty goals of 10% of all homes using solar power and 10% of the cityBs energy consumption to be sourced from renewable resources by 2020. With the recent news of Cape TownBs spirited mayor, Helen Zille, being voted the best mayor in the world, there is literally no stopping the growth and popularity of this gateway to Africa.
Top global conference destination
Cape TownBs traditional strengths of natural beauty and diversity remain unsurpassed, but in the new millennium there have been different challenges the city has met with exemplary ease. In July 2007, the city booted New York off the top of the list of leading international conference destinations and according to a UK based survey, Cape Town comes up trumps compared to Dubai, Las Vegas and Atlanta, just to mention a few.
Our arts and culture have always been admired, and in October 2007 the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, dubbed AAfricaBs Grandest Gathering,B was rated in the top ten international music festivals and thatBs certainly something to be proud of.
World heritage status
Then there are the tributes to Cape TownBs natural resources, something she is not short of. The Cape floral kingdom has been adjudged one of the great natural wonders of the world and boasts over 2, 600 different species. Table Mountain, arguably the one definitive symbol of this great African city, has been declared a world heritage site and a national conservation area.
Blue Flag beaches
Two of Cape TownBs beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status - Clifton 4th beach and Mnandi Beach F and the city was voted one of the worldBs top ten beach cities, clocking in at number five after Miami, Dubai, Barcelona and Rio de Janeiro.
Leading vacation destination
Cape Town has consistently won the kudos for the top holiday destination in the world and some of the accolades bestowed on this remarkable tavern of the seas are:
E AfricaBs best city F US Travel & Leisure ABest in the WorldB awards
E Favourite foreign city F UK Telegraph
E Best travel destination in Africa and the Middle East F US Travel & Leisure Magazine 2004-2007
E One of the worldBs five ABluest SkyB destinations F expedia.co.uk
E Tenth ABest City in the WorldB in 2007
