**2.3 Efforts of South African governments within the global context of adaptation framework**

In order to understand the roles of the various levels of government in South Africa in combatting the menace occasioned by climate change across the country, activities of government (National, Provincial, District as well-as local municipalities) regarding climate change adaptation were reviewed. This was assessed through the policies, strategies and legislations (Acts), and it was equally further done within the global context. The Republic of South Africa, being a signatory to Kyoto Protocol and a part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has taken several initiatives (past and present) in striving to fulfil the expected obligations as regards the protection of citizens and the regional territory against the aggressiveness of climate change and its associated adversities. Some of these efforts as regards adaptation are highlighted in different eras in this section, and these include the following:

#### *2.3.1 Apartheid era*

The legal framework for managing disaster in South Africa preceding democratic rule, were largely administered by the Civil Protection Act No. 67 of 1977 [60]. The National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) was initiated but was characterized by inadequacies following over a hundred lives lost to Lainsburg floods in the year 1981 alone [61]. In reaction to this incidence, out of various legislative and structural reforms that were put together to overhaul the system for proper integration of disaster management was the South Africa Constitution of 1996.

#### *2.3.2 Post-apartheid era*

The South Africa Constitution of 1996 marked the beginning of a prominent legislative and structural reforms of disaster management, by specifying the roles of the government at all levels in Part A Schedule 4 [62]. This necessitated the extension of the Civil Protection Act, the pioneer integrated policy on the management of disaster, called "the Green Paper on Disaster Management" [63].

The same era has witnessed active participation in various fora and conventions with respect to dealing with the challenges and opportunities that climate change presents since 1994. Commitment have been shown by the country to sustainable development with both active international participation and institutionalizing national frameworks. The frameworks include out of others: the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Cancun Agreement, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the Ramsah Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, and the Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer [64] cit. in [65]. This suggests an involving participation of the country on climate change issues at the global realm.

Similarly, South Africa has at various times successfully instituted some climate change related legal frameworks that are either sector-prone (e.g. waste management, carbon tax, transport, energy efficiency, renewable energy and several others). Other related planning instrument is the Integrated Development Planning (IDP), through which short and medium-terms development objectives, strategies and programs are prepared as strategic plans for municipalities. It is a key instrument for guiding and informing fiscal allocation (budget), administration and

**135**

alignment.

if well captured and harnessed.

*Households' Adaptation to Climate Change Hazards in Semi-Arid Region of Mopani, South…*

decision making for service delivery and development within municipal's jurisdiction [66]. Subsequently, White Paper on Disaster Management was produced, emphasizing proactive and integrated approach in the management of disaster through public (stakeholders) participation and capacity building [67]. Targeting the creation of National Disaster Management Centre, enhance disaster prevention among the poor and disadvantaged zones, ensure adequate funding system and

In 2002 Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 was institutionalized, highlighting the guiding philosophies for disaster management and defined tasks [68]. The Act provides for the establishment of Intergovernmental Committee on Disaster Management, with powers to the Premier of the concerned Province and Local Government to select members. While at national level, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is empowered to establish a National Disaster Management Advisory Forum with several governmental and non-governmental organizational representatives, traditional institutions and various professional, Sec 5. (1). Section 8. (1) Establishes a National Disaster Management Centre (NDMF) to form part of, at the same time functions within the control of the Minister under a state department of the public service. Provincial disaster management framework is instituted in Section 28. (1) of the Act not only to be established but also implement a disaster management framework aligned to the NDMF objectives and in consistent with the provisions of Act (No. 57,2002) and the NDMF, 33 (I). The local government is empowered under chapter 5 to appoint a disaster officer [62]. This gave birth to the establishment of Mopani District Disaster Management Centre at District Municipal level and the appointment of disaster manager in the five local municipalities in Mopani District as gathered during our field survey, they

In 2011, the parliaments of South Africa adopted the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS). The policy document is generally anchored on some strategic priorities such as risk reduction and management; mitigation actions (with significant targeted outcomes); sectoral responses; policy and regulatory

The establishment of the National Climate Change Monitoring and Evaluation System came with the objectives of tracking South Africa's transition to a climate resilient society, by following-up on the country's transition to a lower carbon economy and by tracking climate finance. The benefits of the system include out of others, the provision of an evidence-based impacts and the vulnerabilities to climate change, and providing learning for the workability and otherwise of climate change response. This will inform the future responses to climate change as well-as facilitate the assessment of the impact and need for climate finance and institutionalizing national communication and biennial update reports. As promising as these objectives are, the M&E system has till now been struggling to find its rightful place, because of the disconnect between the municipalities and the grassroots where the data (for national communication and biennial reports) ought to be generated. Although the M&S system is substantially mitigation-focused not adaptation oriented, it still remains a viable too and mechanism for managing adaptation

The specific urban policy and planning that was institutionalized that "seek to influence the distributions and operations of investment and consumption processes in cities for the common good" [70] was the South African Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) as approved in 2016 by Cabinet. Although attempt by various Government's Departments have in different ways attempted to address the challenges of urban areas since 1994 with significant achievements in areas such as service extension, municipal reform, urban renewal and economic

facilitate access to information (South African Government Gazette).

equally had plans for disaster management framework [69].

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94759*

## *Households' Adaptation to Climate Change Hazards in Semi-Arid Region of Mopani, South… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94759*

decision making for service delivery and development within municipal's jurisdiction [66]. Subsequently, White Paper on Disaster Management was produced, emphasizing proactive and integrated approach in the management of disaster through public (stakeholders) participation and capacity building [67]. Targeting the creation of National Disaster Management Centre, enhance disaster prevention among the poor and disadvantaged zones, ensure adequate funding system and facilitate access to information (South African Government Gazette).

In 2002 Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 was institutionalized, highlighting the guiding philosophies for disaster management and defined tasks [68]. The Act provides for the establishment of Intergovernmental Committee on Disaster Management, with powers to the Premier of the concerned Province and Local Government to select members. While at national level, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is empowered to establish a National Disaster Management Advisory Forum with several governmental and non-governmental organizational representatives, traditional institutions and various professional, Sec 5. (1). Section 8. (1) Establishes a National Disaster Management Centre (NDMF) to form part of, at the same time functions within the control of the Minister under a state department of the public service. Provincial disaster management framework is instituted in Section 28. (1) of the Act not only to be established but also implement a disaster management framework aligned to the NDMF objectives and in consistent with the provisions of Act (No. 57,2002) and the NDMF, 33 (I). The local government is empowered under chapter 5 to appoint a disaster officer [62]. This gave birth to the establishment of Mopani District Disaster Management Centre at District Municipal level and the appointment of disaster manager in the five local municipalities in Mopani District as gathered during our field survey, they equally had plans for disaster management framework [69].

In 2011, the parliaments of South Africa adopted the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS). The policy document is generally anchored on some strategic priorities such as risk reduction and management; mitigation actions (with significant targeted outcomes); sectoral responses; policy and regulatory alignment.

The establishment of the National Climate Change Monitoring and Evaluation System came with the objectives of tracking South Africa's transition to a climate resilient society, by following-up on the country's transition to a lower carbon economy and by tracking climate finance. The benefits of the system include out of others, the provision of an evidence-based impacts and the vulnerabilities to climate change, and providing learning for the workability and otherwise of climate change response. This will inform the future responses to climate change as well-as facilitate the assessment of the impact and need for climate finance and institutionalizing national communication and biennial update reports. As promising as these objectives are, the M&E system has till now been struggling to find its rightful place, because of the disconnect between the municipalities and the grassroots where the data (for national communication and biennial reports) ought to be generated. Although the M&S system is substantially mitigation-focused not adaptation oriented, it still remains a viable too and mechanism for managing adaptation if well captured and harnessed.

The specific urban policy and planning that was institutionalized that "seek to influence the distributions and operations of investment and consumption processes in cities for the common good" [70] was the South African Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) as approved in 2016 by Cabinet. Although attempt by various Government's Departments have in different ways attempted to address the challenges of urban areas since 1994 with significant achievements in areas such as service extension, municipal reform, urban renewal and economic

*Natural Hazards - Impacts, Adjustments and Resilience*

**adaptation framework**

section, and these include the following:

*2.3.1 Apartheid era*

Constitution of 1996.

*2.3.2 Post-apartheid era*

**2.3 Efforts of South African governments within the global context of** 

In order to understand the roles of the various levels of government in South Africa in combatting the menace occasioned by climate change across the country, activities of government (National, Provincial, District as well-as local municipalities) regarding climate change adaptation were reviewed. This was assessed through the policies, strategies and legislations (Acts), and it was equally further done within the global context. The Republic of South Africa, being a signatory to Kyoto Protocol and a part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has taken several initiatives (past and present) in striving to fulfil the expected obligations as regards the protection of citizens and the regional territory against the aggressiveness of climate change and its associated adversities. Some of these efforts as regards adaptation are highlighted in different eras in this

The legal framework for managing disaster in South Africa preceding democratic rule, were largely administered by the Civil Protection Act No. 67 of 1977 [60]. The National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) was initiated but was characterized by inadequacies following over a hundred lives lost to Lainsburg floods in the year 1981 alone [61]. In reaction to this incidence, out of various legislative and structural reforms that were put together to overhaul the system for proper integration of disaster management was the South Africa

The South Africa Constitution of 1996 marked the beginning of a prominent legislative and structural reforms of disaster management, by specifying the roles of the government at all levels in Part A Schedule 4 [62]. This necessitated the extension of the Civil Protection Act, the pioneer integrated policy on the manage-

The same era has witnessed active participation in various fora and conventions with respect to dealing with the challenges and opportunities that climate change presents since 1994. Commitment have been shown by the country to sustainable development with both active international participation and institutionalizing national frameworks. The frameworks include out of others: the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Cancun Agreement, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the Ramsah Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, and the Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer [64] cit. in [65]. This suggests an involving participation of the coun-

Similarly, South Africa has at various times successfully instituted some climate change related legal frameworks that are either sector-prone (e.g. waste management, carbon tax, transport, energy efficiency, renewable energy and several others). Other related planning instrument is the Integrated Development Planning (IDP), through which short and medium-terms development objectives, strategies and programs are prepared as strategic plans for municipalities. It is a key instrument for guiding and informing fiscal allocation (budget), administration and

ment of disaster, called "the Green Paper on Disaster Management" [63].

try on climate change issues at the global realm.

**134**

infrastructure development, these efforts are largely viewed as inadequate [71]. Not so much achievements have been recorded in the mainstreaming of climate change to urban planning. The municipalities in Mopani District are still relying on the National Urban Policy without plans (currently) to have theirs that embrace the economic, political, social and environmental peculiarities of their respective areas. However, the adoption of the Paris Agreement as well as the New Urban Agenda, signaled a renewed motivation for action, particularly to mainstreaming climate change in Urban Policy.

The Mopani District Municipality in line with the National Disaster Management Act 2005 acknowledges the current and the potential climate change threats to both human and the environment. It equally recognizes the need for actions to mitigate, as well as prepare for the projected changes (adaptation) in the District. Consequent upon this, the district municipality in 2016 developed Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Change Response Plan to prioritize the development of Climate Change Response strategies. The Plan recognizes several numbers of ways that climate change will impact on human settlements across the district and thus identifies related indicators, sub-projects and actions for inclusion in the service delivery and the plans for budget implementation [72]. Our field survey revealed that the identified projects are held for paucity of funds.

The frustrations from the failure of municipalities to guarantee the protection of households through the implementation of a pragmatic actions have prompted private adaptation initiatives across the selected towns in the district to curtail the impacts of climate change. The section of this chapter succeeding the description of the study area and methods, addresses the various initiatives of households towards coping with climate change in the selected towns.
