Climatic Change and Housing Issues in South Africa

Chapter
First Online:

Abstract

Climatic change is one of the most pressing global environmental challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century (Parry et al. 2007; UNDP 2007). Previously, most of the debate on climate change focused mainly on mitigation and adaptation strategies to address its causes and consequences to the environment. However, in recent years, some commentators have expanded the debate by arguing that climatic change is a development issue and that only sustainable development can effectively confront the challenge (Tomlin and Hug 2006; Parry 2009). A greater realization has emerged that climatic change tends to have a greater impact on the poor sectors of the populace, which already suffer from poor health conditions, unemployment or social exclusion. This is due to the fact they have the least capacity to manage risk and thus make long-term adaptations. This has caused a shift in the focus of the climatic change discourse from being primarily concerned with environmental issues to include poverty issues and sustainable development.

Keywords

Poverty Alleviation Housing Policy Informal Settlement South African Government Poverty Eradication 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Abbott J, Douglas D (1999) Trends in informal settlement in the cape metropolitan area. Report prepared by the Urban GIS Group, Department of Civil Engineering for the Directorate of Planning, Environment and Housing, Cape Metropolitan Council, Cape Town, University of Cape Town, Cape TownGoogle Scholar
  2. Armstrong P, Lekezwa B, Siebrits K (2008) Poverty in South Africa: a profile based on recent household surveys, Stellenbosch economic working papers: 04/08. Department of Economics, University of Stellenbosch, StellenboschGoogle Scholar
  3. Bhorat H, van der Westhuizen C (2006) Economic growth, poverty and inequality in South Africa: the first decade of democracy. Development Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town, Cape TownGoogle Scholar
  4. Chikulo BC (2003) Development policy in South Africa: a review. DPMN bulletin, X (2). http://www.dpmf.org/pub-bulletin.html. Accessed 20 March 2009
  5. DEAT (1999) State of the environment. http://soer,deat.gov.za/docsport.aspx?m=97yd=14. Accessed 10 March 2009
  6. DDEAT (2000) White paper on integrated pollution and waste management for South Africa: a policy on pollution prevention, waste minimization, impact management and remediation. Government Gazette, 417 (20978), DEAT, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  7. DEAT (2004) A national climate change response strategy for South Africa. DEAT, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  8. DEAT (2005b) Chapter 10: human vulnerability to environmental change, background paper. http://www.soer.deat.gov.za/themes.aspx?m=28. Accessed 28 May 2009
  9. DEAT (2008) State of the environment. http://www.soer,deat.gov.za/frontpge.aspx?m=2. Accessed 11 March 2009
  10. DEAT (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism) (1998) National Environmental Management Act (Act No.107) of 1998. Government Gazette, 401(19519), DEAT, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  11. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) (2001) Free water implementation strategy. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  12. IDRC (International Development Research Centre) (1995) Building a new South Africa: volume 4. http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-9323-201-1-DO_TOPIC_html. Accessed 10 Jan 2009
  13. DoH (1997b) Urban development framework. The Department of Housing, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  14. DoH (2004a) ‘Breaking New Ground’: a comprehensive plan for the development of sustainable human settlements. Department of Housing, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  15. DoH (Department of Housing) (1994)White paper on housing. A new housing policy and strategy for South Africa. Government Gazette, 345(16178), Department of Housing, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  16. DPLG (Department of Provincial and Local Government) (2002) Integrated development planning local pathways to sustainable development in South Africa: an awareness campaign developed for the world summit on sustainable development Johannesburg 2002. Department of Provincial & Local Government, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  17. Du Plessis L, Landmark K (2002) Sustainability analysis of human settlements in South Africa. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  18. Earthline Africa/Oxfam (2009) Climate change, development and energy problems in South Africa: is another world possible? Earthline Africa, JohannesburgGoogle Scholar
  19. Fakier S, Stephens A, Tholin J (2005) Environmental governance, background paper for DEAT. DEAT, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  20. GCIS (Government Communications) (2009) South Africa Year Book, 2008/9. GCIS, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  21. Harris HC, Krueger DLW (2005) Implementing Energy Efficiency policy in Housing in South Africa. J Energ S Afr 16(3):38–44Google Scholar
  22. Hope KR (2009) Climate change and poverty in Africa. Intl J Sust Dev World Ecol 16(6):451–461CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development) (2004) South Africa case study: analysis of national strategies for sustainable development. http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2004:measures_sdsip_sa.pdf. Accessed 29 Jan 2010
  24. Khan S, Thursman S (2001) Setting the stage: current housing policy debate in South Africa. Isandla Institute. http://www.Isandla.org.za.papers/20%.20Housing%20policy%20in20SA%20(2001).pdf-. Accessed 12 Feb 2009
  25. Kilian D, Feihn H, Ball J, Howell D (2005) Human settlements: background paper for the South Africa national state of the environment project. Energy Research Centre, Cape TownGoogle Scholar
  26. Low PS (ed) (2009) Climate change and Africa. Cambridge University Press, CambridgeGoogle Scholar
  27. Luyt D (2008) Governance, accountability and poverty alleviation in south in South Africa. Paper presented at the United Nations Social Forum on 2 September 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland. http://www2.ohchr.org/English/issues/poverty/docs/sforum/spresentations/D.Luyt.pdf. Accessed 21 Dec 2008
  28. Mail & Guardian Online (2009) Air pollution costs South Africa R4 billion in Healthcare. http://www.mg.co.za/2009-10-12-air-pollution-costs-sa-r4bn-in-healthcare. Accessed 16 Oct 2009
  29. Midgley GF, Chapman RA, Hewitson B et al (2005) A status quo, vulnerability and adaption assessment of the physical and socio-economic effects of climate change in the Western Cape. Report to the Western Cape Government, Cape Town, Report No. ENV-S-C-2005-073, University of Stellenbosch, StellenboschGoogle Scholar
  30. Mqadi C, Steynor A (2005) Adaption activities report for South Africa. Climate analysis group (CSAG), South South North Group, South Africa Office, University of Cape Town. http://www.southsouthnorth.org/countryreport.asp%3Fcountry_id%305+mqadi+andsteynor/2005,humansettlements,SouthAfrica&cd=18hl=en&cd=clnk&ql=29. Accessed 15 Dec 2008
  31. Parry M (2009) Climate change is a development issue, and only sustainable development can confront the challenge. Clim Change 1.1(1):5–9Google Scholar
  32. Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) (2007) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaption and vulnerability, contributions of working group II to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, CambridgeGoogle Scholar
  33. RSA (1995) Urban development strategy of the government of national unity. Office of the President, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  34. RSA (1996a) The constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Government Printer, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  35. RSA (1996b) Growth, employment and redistribution strategy. Department of Finance, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  36. RSA (2000) The integrated sustainable rural development strategy (ISRDS). Office of the President, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  37. RSA (2003) Towards a ten year review: synthesis report on the implementation of government programmes. A discussion document of the Policy Co-ordination and Advisory Services. Office of the President, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  38. RSA (2004) South Africa: initial national communication under the United Nations framework convention on climate change. Submitted at COP-9. Pretoria. http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/zafnc01.pdf. Accessed 15 Dec 2008
  39. RSA (2005) South Africa millennium development goals country report 2005. http://www.southafrica.info/about/social/mdg.050805.htm. Accessed 30 April 2009
  40. RSA (2006) Accelerated and shared growth initiative for South Africa. http://www.infogov.za/asgisa/asgisa.htm. Accessed 15 Dec 2006
  41. RSA (2007) Millennium development goals mid-term report. Government of South Africa, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  42. RSA (2008) Towards anti-poverty strategy for South Africa: a discussion document. http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=92543. Accessed 30 April 2009
  43. RSA (1994) Reconstruction and Development White Paper. Office of the President, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  44. Smith HM (2005) The relationship between settlement density and informal settlement fires: case study of Imizan Yethu, Hout Bay and Joe Slovo, Cape Town Metropolis. In: van Oosterom P, Zlatanova S, Fendel EM (eds) Geo-information for disaster management. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, pp 1333–1335CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  45. Spiegel A, Waterson V, Wilkinson P (2001) Houses for all? Post-apartheid housing policy and shelter needs in South Africa. In: Polakow V, Guillean C (eds) International perspectives on homelessness. Greenwood Publishing, Westport, Connecticut, pp 289–308Google Scholar
  46. SSA (2001) Census 2001. Statistics South Africa, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  47. SSA (2007a) General household survey. Statistical Release P0318. Statistics South Africa, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  48. SSA (2007b) Mid-year population estimates. Statistical release P0302.SSA. Statistics South Africa, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  49. SSA (2008a) Income and expenditure survey 2005/06. Statistics South Africa, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  50. Tomlin C, Hug S (2006) Africa and climate change, sustainable development opinion paper. International Institute for the Environment and Development (IIED), United Kingdom. http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdf/full/11063IIED.pdf. Accessed 15 July 2008
  51. Tomlinson M (1996) From rejection to resignation: beneficiaries’ views on the government’s housing subsidy scheme, CPS research report No: 49, July. Centre for Policy Studies, JohannesburgGoogle Scholar
  52. Toulmin C (2009) Climate change in Africa. Zed Press, LondonGoogle Scholar
  53. UNCSD (United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development) (2002) Johannesburg summit 2002: South Africa country profile, CCP 2002-SOUTH. UNCSD, New YorkGoogle Scholar
  54. UNDP (2003) South Africa human development report: the challenge of sustainable development in South Africa: unlocking people’s creativity. UNDP South Africa, Oxford University Press, PretoriaGoogle Scholar
  55. UNDP (2007) Human development report 2007/2008. Fighting climate change: human solidarity in a divided world. Palgrave & Macmillan, New YorkGoogle Scholar
  56. UNDP (2008) Statistics of human development report. New York: UNDP. http://hdrundp.org/en/statistics/. Accessed 20 July 2008
  57. Winkler H, Marquand A (2007) Energy development and climate: decarbonising growth in South Africa. Human development report 2007/2008, Occasional paper 2007/40. http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/papers/Winkler_harald%20and%20Marquard_Andrew.pdf. Accessed 20 Nov 2008
  58. Winkler H, Marquand A (2009) Changing development paths: from an energy-intensive to low-carbon economy in South Africa. Clim Dev 1(1):47–65CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  59. World Bank (2010) World development report 2010: climate and development. World Bank, New YorkGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Development StudiesNorth-West UniversityMmabathoSouth Africa

Personalised recommendations