Public Works Minister Geoff Doidge on Thursday reiterated a "call for action" to move towards a ‘greener' built environment - which would need leadership from government, as well as expertise and innovation from industry.

Addressing delegates gathered at the alive2green green building conference in Johannesburg, Doidge said that there was no reason why South Africa could not be an international leader in greening the built environment, as it had the technical and manufacturing capacity.

The Minister affirmed that the government has identified the need to grow the ‘green economy', and said that a green economy summit would be held in May. Here, the Department of Public Works (DPW), and other government departments would engage with industry to assess how South Africa could transition into a green built environment, and thereby create a greener economy and more jobs in green industries.

He further noted that President Jacob Zuma has taken a leading role at the global climate change negotiations, and was supportive of green industry initiatives and encouraged development in South Africa.

It was recognised that a concrete strategy to reduce emissions was required, and the built environment should play its part in that.

Doidge said that the DPW, which owns some 108 000 public buildings nationally, has embarked on an energy efficiency drive in public buildings. Together with the Construction Industry Development Board, the DPW was also working to understand the Green Star South Africa rating system, which was developed by the Green Building Council of South Africa. This work would inform the road map for greening the built environment in South Africa over the years.

The department was striving towards a built environment green strategy, and would look to industry for assistance. Transformation to a greener built environment would require an overall more sustainable approach to development.

"The transformation to green provides emerging economies with opportunities to develop green products, green industry, and green jobs," affirmed Doidge.

South African Council for the Architectural Professionals (Sacap) registrar Dorothy Brislin also noted that the council, which regulates the architectural industry, has identified green building as a priority in the industry.

Importantly, Brislin noted that Sacap was encouraging green building at educational institutions, where architecture was taught. "We are making it a criteria that green building must be a part of the curriculum," she said.