Draft Climate Change Adaptation Sector Plan for Rural Settlement

Draft Climate Change Adaptation Sector Plan for Rural Settlement

Climate Change Adaptation Sector Strategy for Rural Human Settlements

Department of Rural Development and Land Affairs

June 2013

LinkdEnvironmental Services

t: +27 11 486 4076 f: +27 866 717 236 e: w:

Draft Climate Change Adaptation Sector Plan for Rural Settlement

Contents

1.Background

1.1.Policy context and regulatory framework

1.2.Rural Human Settlements

1.3.South Africa’s Rural People

2.Climate Change Risks and Vulnerabilities

2.1.Conceptual Framework

2.1.1.Climate Science and Uncertainty

2.2.Environmental risk

2.2.1.Hazard Exposure

2.2.2.Sensitivity

2.2.3.Climate disasters

2.3.Social vulnerability and adaptive capacity

2.3.1.Infrastructure and Services

2.3.2.Health

2.3.3.Economic vulnerability

2.3.4.Mapping social vulnerability

3.The need for adaptation

3.1.The links between adaptation and development

3.2.Adaptation responses

4.Strategic Framework

4.1.Guiding principles

4.1.1.Climate change related vulnerability must be understood in the local context

4.1.2.Adaptation planning must be shaped by local participation

4.1.3.Adaptation must build on local capabilities

4.1.4.Acknowledging climate justice

4.1.5.Evidence based planning

4.2.Goals and objectives

5.Implementation Plan

5.1.Instruments

5.1.1.Local adaption planning

5.1.2.Sustainable rural livelihoods

5.1.3.Sustainable land management

5.1.4.Sustainable eco-system services

5.1.5.Climate resilient infrastructure and services

5.1.6.Disaster Risk Management

5.1.7.Research to support rural resilience

5.2.Institutional Arrangements

5.3.Financing Adaptation

5.4.Priority programmes and projects

5.4.1.Integration of climate change responses into the CRDP

Local adaptation planning

Sustainable livelihoods and protection of eco-system services

Delivery of climate resilient services and infrastructure

5.4.2.Climate resilient land use management and spatial planning

5.4.3.Disaster risk management and planning

5.4.4.Research programme to support climate resilient rural human settlements

5.5.Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

5.5.1.Guidelines for the monitoring and evaluation of projects

6.References

Definitions of Key Terms

Adaptationinvolves adjustments to enhance the viability of rural development and to reduce its vulnerability to climate, including its current variability and extreme events as well as longer term climate change (Smit 2005)

Adaptive Capacity refers to the financial, physical, cultural and political ability of societies to make the required changes needed to survive the adverse effects of climate change. Adaptive capacity is defined by how people experience and survive the exposure to hazards.

Climate refers to the average weather over time for a specific region (FAO 2007).

Climate change refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or anthropogenic forces (FAO 2007).

Climate-resilient society is one that has taken measures to adapt and respond to climate change (UNDP 2010).

Climate variability refers to variations in the mean state of the given climate for a specific region over time (FAO 2007).

Climate Change Vulnerability is a result of a combination between the environmental risks that society’s face and their abilities to cope with those risks.

Rural Human Settlements are places in which people live and work that lie outside of the urban edge (DRDLR 2013).

Weather is the current atmospheric condition in a specific area. The weather includes variables such as temperature, rainfall and wind. Weather happens currently or in the very near future (FAO 2007).

List of Abbreviations

ACCCA Advancing Capacity to Support Climate Change Adaptation

ANCAfrican National Congress

ARCAgricultural Research Council

CBO Community Based Organization

CO2 Carbon Dioxide

CRDP Comprehensive Rural Development Programme

CSAGClimate Systems Analysis Group

CSDI Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative

CSIRCentre for Scientific and Industrial Research

DAFFDepartment of Agriculture and Forestry

DEADepartment of Environmental Affairs

DRDLR Department of Rural Development and Land Reform

DRMDisaster Risk Management

DRRDisaster Risk Reduction

DSTDepartment of Science and Technology

DWA Department of Water Affairs

EWSEarly Warning Systems

FAOFood and Agriculture Organization

GAP Geo Spatial Analysis Platform

GCMGlobal Circulation model

GEARGrowth, Employment and Redistribution

GHGGreen House Gas

IPCCInternational Panel on Climate Change

ISRDSIntegrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy

NARYSECNational Rural Youth Service Corp

NCCRNational Climate Change Response

NDPNational Development Plan

NDMCNational Disaster Risk Management Centre

NRFNational research Foundation

NGONon-Governmental Organization

NPCNational Planning commission

NTNational Treasury

RDP Reconstruction and Development Plan

REIDRural Infrastructure Enterprise Development

RIDRural Infrastructure Development

SADCSouthern African Development Community

SARVASouth African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas

SANBISouth African National Biodiversity Institute

SAWS South African Weather Services

SLFSustainable Livelihoods Framework

UCTUniversity of Cape Town

UNUnited Nations

UNESCAPUnited Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

UNFCCCUnited Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change

UNISDRUnited Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

WRCWater Research Commission

List of tables and figures

Figure 1: Employment in agriculture, first quarter 2001 - 2013

Figure 2: Conceptual Model for Climate Change Vulnerability

Table 1: Potential impacts of projected temperature increases

Table 2: Potential impacts of projected changes in precipitation patterns

Table 3: Potential impacts of projected changes in oceanic systems

Figure 3: Composite mapping of social vulnerability indicators

Table 4: Adaptation Responses

Figure 4: CRDP Programme Phases

Figure 5: Institutional Arrangements

Figure 6: Phases for incorporating adaptation into CRDP sites

Table 5: Logical Framework for Adaptation Plan

Figure 7: Steps in the monitoring and evaluation process

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Climate Change Adaptation Sector Plan for Rural Human Settlements has been prepared by DRDLR in fulfilment of its mandate to coordinate delivery of Outcome 7: Vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities and food security for all. Further, the development of sector based climate change adaptation plans by national departments is mandated by the National Climate Change Response White Paper (NCCR), adopted by Cabinet in 2011.This adaptation plan is guided by the National Development Plan (NDP), which encapsulates the overarching vision of the country until 2030 and aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. The NDP recognizes that government attempts to reduce rural poverty since 1994 have shown that there is no simple answer to this challenge.

Climate Change is associated with increased variability in weather and a heightened risk of extreme weather events that may result in climate-related disasters, which include:

• Droughts,which caused damage estimated at R1 150 million between 2000 and 2009.
• Floods and storms, which caused damage estimated at R4 700 million, and have resulted in 140 deaths between 2000 and 2009.
• Veld fires caused damage estimated at R1,750 million, and 34 deaths during the 2000 – 2009 period.

The table below summarises the key impacts of the changes to temperature, rainfall and oceanic systems that result from climate change:

Bio-physical changes in climate / Potential Impacts
Increased number of warm and very hot days and increased maximum daily temperatures / Increased evaporation impacting on the availability of surface water
Soil degradation due to increased acidity, nutrient depletion, declining microbiological diversity, lower water retention and increased runoff.
Positive or negative impacts on crops and growing season length depending on local topography, precipitation and crop types. Some crops, particularly deciduous fruits, require a chill factor during winter to be productive.
Increased incidence of heat waves and associated risks for human and livestock health from heat stress, particularly for the very old and young, and those already suffering from illness.
Increase in the concentration and range of pests and pathogens that comprise human and livestock disease vectors, such as malaria and ticks.
Increased risk of wild fires and associated damage to crops, property and infrastructure.
Increased number of consecutive dry days / Decreases in runoff and stream flow and an increased risk of drought, affecting crop production, food security and rural livelihoods.
Reduced stream flow is a particular threat for rural communities that are directly dependant on surface water resources.
Loss of soil moisture affecting crops and increasing the risk of soil erosion due to wind.
Increased risk of veldfires and resultant damage to property, grazing, and crops.
Increase in number of consecutive wet days and/or increase in extreme precipitation events / Increased risk of floods, with consequent risks of damage to crops, property and loss of life.
Water logging of soil affecting crops.
Increased risk from water borne diseases such as cholera.
Damage to bulk water infrastructure, irrigation systems and water reticulation.
Damage to property and crops from winds associated with violent storms.
Extreme precipitation events are often preceded by lightening, which is responsible for a significant number of fatalities in rural areas every year
Changes in the variability and timing of precipitation / Farmers rely on predictable rains for timing the planting of crops, and subsistence farmers practicing rain-fed agriculture are particularly at risk.
Increased variability and unpredictable timing of rainfall impacts directly on the management of catchments and bulk water infrastructure, threatening the availability of water.
Sea level rise / Salinisation of water sources provided by coastal aquifers on which some coastal communities depend
Damages to infrastructure and property located in coastal areas with a low elevation, aggravated by storm surges associated with extreme weather.
Oceanic warming / Changes to the distribution and ranges of estuarine and marine species important to livelihoods in rural fishing communities.
Ocean acidification / Impacts on the development and reproduction of estuarine and marine species important to livelihoods in rural fishing communities.

Because of the high levels of poverty and low levels of service delivery and infrastructure experienced by many rural communities, they are particularly vulnerable to such disasters. Drivers of social vulnerability to climate change include:

• Inadequate access to basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity, and waste management
• Inadequate access to health care facilities
• Inadequate access to infrastructure such as housing, roads and communications.
• Infants and the old are more physiologically vulnerable to the effects of climate change on human health, and communities with a low number of economically active adults are socio-economically vulnerable.
• Households with low income levels are less able to cope with and respond to the environmental stresses and shocks associated with climate change. Similarly, lack of access to land and insecure tenure increases social vulnerability.

The scope of this plan embraces human settlements whichlocated outside of the urban edge, as defined in spatial development plans. This may include

• Urban Fringe: settlements on the periphery of metropolitan areas and towns, which may include informal settlements, low cost housing and high-income low density settlements.
• Dense Rural Settlements: consisting of “betterment settlements” as a legacy of apartheid planning in the former homelands and informal settlements.
• Rural villages: these can be unplanned traditional settlements, or planned settlements that service farms.
• Dispersed and scattered settlements: these consist of unplanned traditional homesteads and settlements in commercial farming areas.

Within each of these typologies, and even within particular rural communities, there is a large degree of diversity in settlement patterns, socio-economic status, and access to services of households.South Africa has experienced a long-term and ongoing trend of urbanisation. Currently almost 39 percent of the population resides in the rural areas, and on current trends this will decrease to 20 percent by the year 2050. For many in the rural areas, particularly the densely populated former homelands, life is beset with struggles around access to basic necessities such as potable water, sanitation, fuel for cooking and high levels of poverty and food insecurity. One in two rural households is dependent on social grants, compared with one in five houses in urban centres.

The Climate Change Adaptation Sector Plan for Rural Human Settlements is founded on the following guiding principles, which will be used to inform adaptation responses in the sector:

• Climate change related vulnerability must be understood in the local context – climate change risks and vulnerabilities are location specific.
• Adaptation planning must be shaped by local participation – community driven adaptation responses must place control and resources in the hands of local communities and view rural people as partners and assets in development.
• Adaptation must build on local capabilities – responses should leverage the resources, efforts and capabilities of local areas.
• Acknowledging climate justice – adaptation responses must seek to allocate resources in the context of disproportionate needs and historical inequalities, with the rural poor most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, despite have contributed least to the causes.
• Evidence based planning – climate change responses should be based on scientific evidence and should initially focus on delivering outcomes that are known to be intrinsically beneficial to rural communities.

The overarching goal of the Climate Change Adaptation Sector Plan for Rural Human Settlements is to create sustainable livelihoods that are resilient to the shocks and stresses caused by climate change and do not adversely affect the environment for present and future generations. To achieve this, the adaptation plan has been structured around the following strategic objectives:

1. Support the development of community and local climate adaptation plans – climate change vulnerability is best understood in terms of the particular environmental risks and socio-economic conditions pertaining to particular rural human settlements, and adaptation responses need to be tailored to local needs and build on local capabilities.
2. Build local adaptive capacity through supporting sustainable livelihoods – diversifying income sources for poor rural households, many of whom depend on government grants and subsistence agriculture for survival, is necessary to reduce their risks and combat rural poverty.
3. Support sustainable land management that promotes climate resilience– land use management and land reform processes need to not only protect and enhance productivity and transformation in the agricultural sector, but also to build resilience to the environmental impacts of climate change and protect natural assets by reducing land degradation and soil erosion.
4. Protect ecosystem services to rural communities– ecosystems provide critical services to rural communities such as clean water, air, biodiversity and productive soils. Protecting ecosystems not only builds the resilience of rural communities to climate change, but is also essential to the sustainability of urban centres.
5. Promote access to climate resilient services and infrastructure – lack of access or inadequate access to basic services and infrastructure increases the exposure and vulnerability of rural communities to the impacts of climate change.
6. Strengthen disaster preparedness and response – Rural human settlements are in many cases particularly vulnerable to climate related disasters as a consequence of the increased reliance of many rural households on natural resources, a high incidence of poverty, as well as issues of access as a result of remoteness and inadequate transport and communications infrastructure.
7. Invest in long term research on more effective ways to supports rural household climate resilience – akey goal of climate research is to reduce the uncertainty associated with climate change and provide timely, relevant information to inform planning processes and develop appropriate adaptation responses.

Designing and implementing climate change adaptation responses will require multi-sectoral coordination and cooperative governance across different government departments and spheres of governance, as well as coordination with non-governmental stakeholders. For this reason, the adaptation leverages a broad range of instruments for implementation, including partnerships with other government departments and agencies. Local adaptation responses can be supported by planning instruments such as IDPs and associated planning instruments for local government. The Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, Act No.16 of 2013 gives legal effect to National, Provincial, Regional and Municipal Spatial Development Frameworks,land use schemes and Municipal Planning Tribunals.

Four priority programmes for the implementation of the plan have been identified:

1. Integration of climate change responses into the CRDP – this forms the core of the plan and consists of undertaking adaptation planning process in CRDP sites in partnership with the relevant local municipalities, piloting adaptation responses and strategies at these sites, and building on success to take adaptation response to scale while learning from failures.
2. Climate resilient land use management and spatial planning – this involves developing norms and standards for incorporating climate change risk and vulnerability into spatial development frameworks, land use schemes, and environmental impact assessments.
3. Disaster risk management and planning – this involves partnering with the National Disaster Risk Management Centre to improve early warning systems, develop climate-related disaster response strategies for rural areas, and undertaking local disaster risk and vulnerability assessments to inform local government planning.
4. Research programme to support climate resilient rural human settlements – the key research areas in this programme include climate resilient agriculture relevant to small-scale and subsistence farmers, technology innovation in service delivery to rural human settlements, and an audit of indigenous agricultural knowledge and practices.

The monitoring and evaluation framework for the plan is based on a logical framework for the adaptation plan itself, and monitoring and evaluation of adaptation projects.

1.Background

This section of the Climate Change Adaption Sector Plan for the Rural Human Settlements (referred to as “the adaptation plan” in this document) sets out the mandate of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) in developing the plan, by describing the institutional scope of the plan and the social context in which it is framed.

1.1.Policy context and regulatory framework

The DRDLR was established as a result of the ruling party’s Polokwane resolutions in 2009 and replaces the previous Department of Land Affairs (DLA). The mandate of the DLA in relation to reform of apartheid patterns of land ownership is taken up by the DRDLR within the context of an integrated strategy for sustainable agrarian transformation to support socio-economic development of rural areas. The central programme of the DRDLR is the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP).