ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This paper focuses planning approach for local energy
sustainability. The characteristics of a complex problem were reviewed to establish that the problem of
sustainable energy at a local government level is complex. In order to better manage complex problems,
the literature shows that soft operational research or problem-structuring methods need to be applied,
and hence these methods were used as a starting point for developing a participatory planning
approach. The requirements for a planning approach were elicited, namely that the approach must be
participative and inclusive, holistic, simple and transparent. In addition, the approach must include
the identification and assessment of risks as part of the deliberation process, the development of a
realistic action plan must be attainable at the end of the stakeholder engagement, the approach must
be dynamic, and should be formalised with clear institutional arrangements. A novel participatory
approach, namely EDAS—to Explore, Design and Act for Sustainability—was then developed,
applied, and evaluated as part of a case study with a local municipality in theWestern Cape Province
of South Africa. The insights are relevant not only for local governments, but for any institution on a
journey towards sustainability.