Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
change will have signifi cant implications for the poor and vulnerable
communities in the city who rely directly on ecosystem services and
natural resources for meeting their basic food and income needs.
Climate Impacts on Cultural Resources and Structures
The IDP under-
lines the important of creating “conditions under which sport, recreation,
arts and culture, and heritage opportunities can be realized for personal
growth, community solidarity, and economic advantage” (EThekwini
Municipality 2008, 67). In addition to providing recreational opportuni-
ties, cultural activities often represent an occasion for celebrating
community diversity and strengthening identity. From a social standpoint,
cultural festivals, parades, sports events, and rallies constitute opportuni-
ties for cultural groups and communities to gather and build greater social
connections and social capital, strengthen support mechanisms, and
attract political attention from decision makers. Threats from climate
change to existing infrastructure, buildings, and community spaces will
be a limiting factor for organizing events. Overall, these patterns suggest
that climate impacts in Durban may undermine the goal of fostering
cultural solidarity and identity for minority communities.
Climate change could also signifi cantly affect traditional cultural
structures in low-income wards around Durban. Recent studies show
that climate impacts are likely to trigger rural-urban migration, social
tension between the rich and poor due to differing access to resources,
cultural dilution because of increased migration, loss of cultural heritage,
and changes in lifestyles (CSIR NRE 2006). Such impacts could affect
cultural leadership structures and have deep consequences for the urban
poor, who may look to traditional cultural practices and leaders for help
in adapting to climate change and its effects. While cultural leaders and
the practices they promote do play a central support role for low-income
vulnerable communities, migration might force traditional leadership
structures to relocate and possibly leave entire communities without
sources of mutual help and guidance.
All in all, in Durban, climatic impacts on traditional farming and
fi shing communities and on structures that communities rely on for
support increase the vulnerability of such communities to climate change.
They also strengthen their dependence on existing livelihoods, and
increase the fragility of these livelihoods. Lastly, climate change is likely
to intensify sociospatial inequities in the city between communities,
because well-off and traditionally advantaged communities in Durban
have more diverse source of food, activity, and income. They can also
