CLIMATE CHANGE

South Africa’s climate change focus needs to be led by the recognition that the e ects are only going to get worse. By Trevor Crighton

While not a direct response to the recent catastrophic ooding in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, the recent urry of activity around climate change by government has certainly thrown into sharp relief the fact that, while South Africa has long been participating in global climate change response, the need for action on the ground is more immediate.

“There needs to be more research into whether climate change is directly responsible for the recent oods. However, all the models show that as the system heats up, we are going to see more of these kinds of oods, more frequently and at greater magnitude,” says Professor Coleen Vogel, climatologist and adaptation and sustainability specialist.

Professor Brett Cohen, director of The Green House and honorary professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town, says that the country is committing to playing its part in the global e orts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

He adds that achieving these commitments should remain a focus. “A ton of CO2 produced in South Africa has the same e ect on the environment as a ton of CO2 produced in Europe or China. Therefore, we need to put systems in place to adapt our practices so that they work for both the local and global good.”

“We need to put systems in place to adapt our practices so that they work for both the local and global good.” – Professor Brett Cohen

Prof Coleen Vogel

TRICKLE-DOWN POLICY

Vogel says that South Africa has a two-pronged approach to managing climate change – mitigation and adaptation. “Mitigation seeks to reduce CO2 and other emissions, and adaptation deals with understanding how we live with the inevitability of climate change,” she says.

A variety of government bodies manage these elements, but it’s also essential that policy trickles down to municipal level. “Every municipality needs a climate action plan – eThekwini was actually the national leader in the space, but was totally overwhelmed by the scale of the floods,” says Vogel.

Dorah Marema, portfolio head for municipal sustainability in infrastructure delivery, spatial transformation services and inclusive communities at SALGA, says South Africa is well-equipped to institute a climate change response as part of the broader environmental management programme.

“Local government is constitutionally responsible for the adaptation and mitigation responses to climate change at municipal level, including spatial planning, land use, road management, public transport, water and electricity supply, gas reticulation, air quality and waste management,” she says. “SALGA’s programmes are about guiding municipalities in identifying opportunities for responding to climate change as they perform their normal functions. Secondly, our

programmes monitor the extent to which this change is happening in municipalities as they develop these these plans. And, thirdly, we advocate for nancial and technical support plan – eThekwini was actually to help mitigate against municipalities opting for ‘least cost’ options that aren’t optimal solutions.” communities at SALGA, says South Africa is well-equipped to institute a climate change response as part of the broader environmental management programme. to help mitigate against municipalities opting for ‘least cost’ options that aren’t optimal solutions.”

Dorah Marema

the Eastern Cape, Marema says the aim is to share nancial and technical support to enable better planning in terms of how the replacement infrastructure can respond to climate change challenges. “If the choices made during the rebuild aren’t done with an eye on

BETTER PLANNING

In terms of the rebuilding e orts in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, Marema says the aim is to share nancial and technical support to enable better planning in terms of how the replacement infrastructure can respond to climate change challenges. “If the choices made during the rebuild aren’t done with an eye on climate resilience, then the chances of the infrastructure being destroyed during future adverse weather events is quite high,” she says. “That would mean that the costs double if the infrastructure needs to be replaced again, whereas better planning and smarter spending will be more cost-e ective.”

WHERE THERE’S A WILL…

Cohen says that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released in April showed that government policy is a key driver for reducing emissions. “We need to minimise the impact of consumer demands by in uencing the way people make choices. This needs to be driven by government action and private sector involvement,” he says.

Cohen says a ecting real change is where industrial and energy policy, transport policy, agriculture and the like intersect – something with which Vogel agrees. “We’re trying to get across to government that we need a systemic approach that includes all the intersectional angles, and we must have cross-departmental discussions to make a real impact,” she says.

Vogel also believes that public-private partnerships are key to e ectively tackling climate change – but that those don’t absolve the government of the responsibility for managing it. ▪

Prof Brett Cohen

“We’re trying to get across to government that we need a systemic approach that includes all the intersectional angles, and we must have cross-departmental discussions to make a real impact.” – Professor Coleen Vogel

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Floods that ravaged KwaZulu-Natal earlier this year are likely to be seen more frequently, say climatologists.