Government response to Global Change

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2 Government response to Global Change The South African National Climate Change Green paper (2010) indicates that government regards climate change as one of the greatest threats to sustainable development Global Grand Challenge Global Change research plan includes four cross cutting knowledge themes: Understanding a changing planet Reducing the current foot print Adapting the way we live Innovative Sustainability Each of these Grand Challenges is designed to: stimulate multidisciplinary thinking, to challenge the country's researchers to answer existing questions, create new disciplines, and develop new technologies

3 SARVA developed to: Global Change Risk and Vulnerability Improve scientific understanding of global changes Develop technologies and innovations to respond to global changes Strengthen science policy practice interface Comprised of four components: Electronic spatial database system Repository of global change and vulnerability case studies Hard copy syntheses of data and studies Geospatial Analysis Platform (GAP) Partners: DST, CSIR (implementing agent); SAEON; SANBI, specialists in universities, research institutions and government departments Also: Steering Committee provides guidance on information needs and priorities and uptake

4 SARVA Spatial Database Spatial Portal structured according to themes Agriculture ; Biodiversity; Emissions and Air Quality; Forestry Human Settlements; Weather and Climate Socio economic (CSIR NRE/BE) Coasts and Oceans SAEON/SANBI Environmental Health MRC (Medical Research Council) Ground water Geohydrological and Spatial Solutions International (GEOSS) Surface Water UKZN (University of KwaZulu Natal) Climate and Society Kulima Integrated Solutions

5 The Risk and Vulnerability Atlas Geospatial Analysis Tool (GAP) Companion to Electronic Spatial Portal Profiling application provides overview for all users, including those without GIS expertise Basic and advanced functions (analysis) with offline data and training Can be added to and adapted based on feedback from users Inclusive of key environmental and social data sets (e.g. economic, settlement, biodiversity, water, forestry, coastal, climate change, etc.) Example questions What are the major changes happening on the South African landscape? What could these changes mean for my community/businesses in my community/zoning etc.? What key trends should I be considering in my planning? Where should I focus my attention in planning for the future? What additional information do I need?

6 The Risk and Vulnerability Atlas Geospatial Analysis Tool (GAP) e Pre prepared maps to identify key trends at a glance A. e Access to underlying information and metadata Advanced Functions including analysis, custom layers and chart making

7 Risk and Vulnerability Science Centres Platform used to enhance effective use of risk and vulnerability data generated by their Universities and the SARVA Provide up to date data & information to key sectors to support strategy development and decision making in areas of risk and vulnerability Located at previously disadvantaged universities Fort hare, Limpopo and Walter Sisulu (plans to add more centres) How to provide the necessary support for local government and business community

8 Planning in the right context the annual direct cost of extreme events in SA was R 1 billion (Toolkit) Local government and other responsible stakeholders need understand What are the local risks? who is vulnerable to what? High risk areas What are factors that enhance/reduce coping capacity? What assets do we have what do we need? Climate / global change information needs to be customised for local municipalities and their respective communities in order to be effective Adaptation is about sustainable development, good governance and effective risk management that integrates response to current and future climate impacts Determining South Africa s vulnerable communities

9 Who or what is Vulnerable? Water hyacinth invasion of water bodies 2011 floods in an informal settlement in Soweto

10 Who is Vulnerable Women Subsistence Farmers Who : Subsistence Farmers What : Rural Livelihoods; Agriculture, food security Why: Gender Bias, Availability of Land, Poverty

11 Use of the Atlas : Lets respond toolkit The toolkit seeks to : assist local government on how to integrate climate change into Integrated Development Plans (IDP) IDP is a statutory process therefore including climate change in the IDP process enhances sustainability Piloted in 5 municipalities Buffalo city Metropolitan, Amathole District Municipality, Nxuba LM, Emfuleni LM &Thulamela LM Local authority lack institutional capacity environmental officers and climate change experts (based at district or provincial offices) Able to identify the risks in their localities Able to develop response strategies

12 Use of the Atlas : Eden district : R2.5 billion losses in 8 extreme weather (cut off low) events Property damages per capita up to 3.5 times annual household income In 2007, Eden road damage costs approx. 97% (~R 426 m) of prov. Total Alternating periods of extreme drought and heavy rains Also: extreme fires, water shortages Three hazards: flood, fire, sea storm

13 Key findings Risks increasing due to increased likelihood of hazards and exposure= Increasing temperature, more intense storms and rains, runaway alien invasive coverage and surface manipulation/hardening Key vulnerabilities in populations Higher risk low income groups Higher risk coastal and rural urban interface properties What can change: Human intervention as powerful as global change Solutions: property development policies alien invasive control estuary management Insurance industry: partnerships, especially with municipalities; a different way of looking at premiums

14 Examples :Settlement vulnerability to extreme event

15 SARVA: Building a resilient future Socio economic, human settlements & Climate projections Settlements coping capability to extreme weather events. Short term climate projections for extreme weather events & the affected settlements & population & their capability to cope with these events. Urban areas struggle to address the problem of informal settlements which are often located in high risk areas Socio economic, human settlements & Groundwater Current & future water scenarios influence settlements & livelihood activities. Settlements are ground water dependent and need to support growing demand (based on migration & projection figures). Food security is also a cause for concern in some areas with projected rainfall decline and increased temperature

16 Why this knowledge is important for decision making? SA s position at the tip of the African continent, adjacent to the Indian, South Atlantic and Southern Oceans that have an inimitable impact on global weather patterns Its wealth of biodiversity it is home to nearly 10% of its plants and 7% of its reptiles, birds and mammals A large proportion of the economy and many urban and rural communities directly depend on biodiversity for their livelihoods through agriculture, fishing, and forestry SA has an outstanding record of scientific research that has potential to improve planning under climate change, and provide access to climate change information for the region

17 For more information visit Julia Mambo Thank You