Overcoming Bureaucratic Resistance: An Analysis of Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation in South Africa
Author:
Sibiya Nomfundo Patricia1, Das Dillip Kumar2, Vogel Coleen3, Mazinyo Sonwabo Perez4, Zhou Leocadia4, Kalumba Mukalazi Ahmed4ORCID, Sithole Mikateko5, Adom Richard Kwame1, Simatele Mulala Danny13ORCID
Affiliation:
1. School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa 2. School of Engineering, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa 3. Global Change Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa 4. Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa 5. Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Abstract
Climate change is already a reality, and it is affecting the lives and livelihoods of many people globally. Many scientists argue that adaptation is, therefore, necessary to address the impact of climate change on life-supporting systems. Climate change adaptation, however, is a complex process that involves transformations implemented through governance at multiple levels. In this paper, the barriers to climate change adaptation in South Africa are presented and analysed. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted telephonically and online via Microsoft Teams with 13 government officials working at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment; the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs; and the uMkhanyakude District Municipality. The findings suggest that the barriers to climate change adaptation in South Africa include inadequate financial resources, a lack of human capacity at the provincial and local levels, limited political will at the local level, limited understanding of climate change adaptation issues by communities, inadequate coordination across government levels and sectors, no legal mandate at the local level, no climate change unit at the district and local levels, a lack of knowledge by some staff members tasked with environmental duties at the local level, not enough climate change plans in place at the local level, and outdated information on climate change used in the IDPs. This paper, therefore, recommends that climate change be a standing item in the Integrated Development Plan for local governments, which will ensure that climate change is budgeted for appropriately. In addition, this paper suggests that a mandate for climate change adaptation be developed for all three government levels. There is also a need for the government to invest in capacity development and improve horizontal and vertical coordination to strengthen the weak climate governance capacity that exists.
Funder
National Research Foundation of South Africa University of the Witwatersrand Postgraduate PhD Merit Award
Subject
Atmospheric Science
Reference115 articles.
1. IPCC (2001). Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, Cambridge University Press. 2. Pörtner, H.-O., Roberts, D.C., Tignor, M., Poloczanska, E.S., Mintenbeck, K., Alegría, A., Craig, M., Langsdorf, S., Löschke, S., and Möller, V. (2022). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, Cambridge University Press. 3. Balint, P.J., Stewart, R.E., Desai, A., and Walters, L.C. (2011). Wicked Environmental Problems: Managing Uncertainty and Conflict, Island Press. 4. Super wicked problems and climate change: Restraining the present to liberate the future;Lazarus;Cornell Law Rev.,2008 5. Turpie, J., and Visser, M. (2013). Financial and Fiscal Commission Submission for the 2013/14 Division of Revenue, Financial and Fiscal Commission.
Cited by
3 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献
|
|