Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Climate change is therefore likely to create an impossibly high hurdle
in terms of achieving fi nancial viability and sustainability, particularly if
adaptation and mitigation measures are not implemented in a timely
manner. Funding mitigation and adaptation measures will, however, also
affect the expenditures available for service delivery and infrastructure
development. This could increase the costs of essential services such as
electricity and water, which in turn could lower local, national, and
foreign investment in the country.
Climate Impacts on Governance and Institutional Transparency
In the
area of governance and institutional transparency, the IDP places an
emphasis on making eThekwini Municipality a “strong and caring insti-
tution which promotes and supports a consultative and participatory
local government” (EThekwini Municipality 2008, 71). Climate inequi-
ties, however, endanger transparency and participation opportunities in
the city, especially for marginalized groups whose voice tends not to be
heard by policymakers and public offi cials. This situation will further
entrench sociospatiality inequities between groups in Durban. Given the
cross-sector and broad-ranging impacts of climate change, and the resul-
tant economic need and social stress, good governance is likely to become
increasingly diffi cult to achieve as government institutions become less
able to meet people's needs and concerns, especially poor populations
isolated on the periphery of the city.
The only effective response to residents' expectations and demands
will be to improve the independence and resiliency of local communities
in the mid- and long term, which will require a fi ne texture of engage-
ment and consultation around climate change issues (i.e., community-
level rather than city-level). The existence of elected Ward Committees
in each of the municipality's 100 wards provides a potential vehicle to
achieve this goal. In two pilot communities, the local Councilor and Ward
Committee have already engaged in information sharing around climate
change as part of a process seeking approval for community involvement
in pilot projects that will let community members participate in local-level
climate change risk assessment and adaptation planning, as well as
research into improved food security and water harvesting. This time- and
resource-intensive engagement is likely to be critical in moving the situ-
ation from one of a “solely responsible government” to one of shared
and participatory governance around climate change issues.
In sum, climate change has a deep and broad impact on municipal
goals, policies, and institutions in Durban. In addition to threatening the
