Log in

Create a user profile using your existing professional profile on LinkedIn, Academia, or ResearchGate.


Alternatively, register a username and password to start an account.


By creating an account you will be able to contribute articles, engage in discussion groups, network with fellow professionals and businesses, and receive interest-related alerts.

Forgot Password

Please enter your email address below and you will receive a temporary link to re-activate your account

Rhetoric or action

Are South African municipalities planning for climate change?

Article image

Willemien Faling, Johann Tempelhoff, Dewald van Niekerk

11 May 2012

English

uKESA Librarian, Willemien van Niekerk

Journal article

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

Africa

In 2008 the South African National Disaster Management Centre commissioned a study into measures taken by local municipalities to plan for climate change. Two areas were selected for their dissimilar climatic challenges: the //Khara Hais Municipality, a semi-desert area in the Northern Cape Province plagued by droughts and severe weather events, and the George Municipality, an area in the Western Cape Province plagued by droughts, the rising sea level and flash floods. It was found that despite South African laws and regulations requiring local government to take action to reduce the risk of disasters, planning for climate change is still no more than sophisticated rhetoric in the two municipalities. This lack of urgency can be ascribed to local municipalities having other more pressing developmental priorities. It would, however, be short-sighted of municipalities not to plan for climate change, as major setbacks in hard-won economic and social development following a disaster.

Downloads

Website References

Adaptation

Built environment

Climate Change/Resilience

Climate change

Disaster mitigation

Governance

Human settlements

Local government

Municipalities

South Africa

Sustainability

Urban

Comments

No comments available
LOAD MORE