By Amy Pieterse, Ané Bruwer, Elsona van Huyssteen, Sasha Naidoo & Tirisha Thambiran
Climate change adaptation exists in a complex policy environment in South Africa. There are various levels and scales at which climate change adaptation research and response relates to policy. Here we provide some information on the international context against which South Africa is obliged to respond as a country in terms of adapting to climate change, as well the involvement of local government in international climate change initiatives which facilitate the implementation and achievement of effective responses.
The role of the Green Book in this policy context is to provide implementation support and to promote legislative and policy compliance, by providing an evidence base to conduct risk and vulnerability assessments and climate change response plans on local, provincial and national level.
Climate change adaptation exists within a complex policy environment in South Africa. There are various levels and scales at which climate change adaptation research and responses relate to policy. Here we provide some information on the international context to which South Africa is obliged to respond as a country in terms of adapting to climate change, as well the involvement of local government in international climate change initiatives which facilitate the implementation and achievement of effective responses. The role of the GreenBook in this policy context is to provide implementation support and to promote legislative and policy compliance, by providing an evidence base to conduct risk and vulnerability assessments and climate change response plans on local, provincial and national levels.
Climate Change Bill, 2018
While the GreenBook focuses on the human settlements sector, it also provides support to other sectors, specifically as they relate to settlements and their functioning. The GreenBook also supports adaptation planning, risk and vulnerability assessments, and mainstreaming for all the spheres of government, and can support capacity building as well.
National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, 2018
The GreenBook can support provincial and local climate change response assessments and implementation by providing risk and vulnerability profiles, appropriate adaptation actions, and information that can be used to prioritise areas most at risk.
Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, 2013
The Act requires municipalities to prepare spatial development frameworks that, among other things, “identify the long term risks of particular spatial patterns of growth and development and the policies and strategies necessary to mitigate those risks”. The GreenBook can support compliance with the Act by providing risk profiles and appropriate adaptation actions that can, in turn, be mainstreamed into spatial development frameworks. The mainstreaming of climate change adaptation into spatial and developmental plans is promoted by a number of national policies and legislation.
Disaster Management Act, 2002 +
The GreenBook can support compliance to the Act by providing information that can be used to expand municipal disaster management plans to include risk assessments and risk mapping for functional areas and for areas with vulnerable populations, and also by providing adaptation actions to reduce these risks.
Project finance
Project manager
Willemien van Niekerk
Willemien van Niekerk
Alize le Roux
Technical coordinator
Amy Pieterse
Project coordinator
Gerbrand Mans
Sibusisiwe Makhanya
Project monitoring and evaluation
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS & TARGETS
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INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS & TARGETS
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INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS & TARGETS
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INTERNATIONAL
AGREEMENTS &
TARGETS
REGIONAL
COOPERATION
NATIONAL
STRATEGIES &
PRIORITIES
SECTORAL
POLICIES
PROVINCIAL &
LOCAL
PLANNING
IMPLEMENTATION
SUPPORT
NSDF
NDP
UNFCCC
Paris Agreement
Sustainable Development Goals
New Urban
Agenda
Sendai
Framework
COMESA
SADC
MTSF
NCCRP
Climate Change
Bill
NCAAS
Human
Settlements
Water
Health
DRR &
Management
Agriculture &
Forestry
Biodiversity & Ecosystems
PSDF
PODS
IDP
SDF
Climate Change
Response Plan
Local & Provincial
Sectoral Plans
GreenBook
LGOCSP (DEA)
CCA Training
Programme (DRDLR)
SARVA
REFERENCES
Suggested citation:
Pieterse, A., Bruwer, A., van Huyssteen, E., Naidoo, S. & Thambiran, T. 2019.
Policy Implications. Green Book. www.greenbook.co.za/policyimplications
