Environmental change, risk and vulnerability: poverty, food insecurity and HIV/AIDS amid infrastructural development and climate change in Southern Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne A Braun
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Water Project ◽  
Infrastructural Development ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Lesotho Highlands Water Project ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) is a transnational multi-dam infrastructural development project to sell water from Lesotho to South Africa. Based on field and secondary research in Lesotho, I demonstrate how infrastructural projects such as the LHWP shape a geography of risk and become a medium through which riskscapes are created or exacerbated in both South Africa and Lesotho. Project-induced changes interacted with and intensified co-occurring vulnerabilities for communities directly and indirectly affected by the LHWP over time. I focus specifically on risks to livelihood, food insecurity and health, within the context of increased climatic shocks in the region.

scholarly journals Hydropolitics versus Human Security: Implications of South Africa's Appropriation of Lesotho's Highlands Water

Daedalus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 150 (4) ◽  
pp. 181-193
Author(s):  
Oscar Gakuo Mwangi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
International Security ◽  
Water Reservoir ◽  
Human Security ◽  
Interstate Conflict ◽  
Structural Relationship ◽  
Water Project ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
The World ◽  
Lesotho Highlands Water Project

Abstract The Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which exports water to South Africa, has enhanced the unequal structural relationship that exists between both states. Lesotho, one of the few countries in the world that exports water, has transformed from one of the largest sources of labor for South Africa to a water reservoir for South Africa. Though the project provides mutual strategic economic and political benefits to both riparian states, its construction has negatively affected environmental and human security in Lesotho. Due to hydropolitics, environmental threats in Lesotho caused by the project's construction are overlooked. These threats, which have devastating effects on resettled communities and the country's ecosystem, also constitute a threat to domestic and international security. The desire to prevent interstate conflict and maintain cooperation between the two riparian states further enhances the lopsided interstate relationship.

Addressing Climate Change in Southern Africa: Any Role for South Africa in the Post-Paris Agreement?

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lere Amusan ◽  
Oluwole Olutola
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Southern Africa Development Community

Climate change is a global challenge. Its ramifying effects on both natural and human systems cut across different regions of the world. While Africa as a whole is being confirmed to be more affected by climate change due in part to a relatively low(er) mitigation and adaptive capacity, coupled with a situation where majority of its population depends mainly on natural resources, Southern Africa is singled out as a potentially vulnerable subregion for other additional factors. Representing a milestone in the trajectory of the global climate change process, the 21st session of the Conference of Parties (COP-21) resolved with a consensual climate change deal known as the Paris Agreement. The Agreement, through the instrumentality of a ratchet up mechanism, otherwise described as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), seeks significant cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions effectively from 2020. In essence, it calls for a novel though gradual shift from carbon-emission approach to low emission development strategy. This, no doubt, is indispensable to sustainable development at all levels. Beyond national commitments as obligatory for parties, there is a need for regional cooperative efforts which should bring about shared appropriate policy responses that promote green energy as well as seize opportunities inherent in it for national and deterritorialised gains. Adopting neoliberal and green theories, the institutional framework of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) where South Africa is expected to take a lead is examined in this article.

scholarly journals Climate change risk to southern African wild food plants

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Wessels ◽  
Cory Merow ◽  
Christopher H. Trisos
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Climate Change Risk ◽  
Warming Scenario ◽  
Language Groups

AbstractClimate change is a threat to food security. Wild-harvested food plants (WFPs) are important for the diets of millions of people and contribute to food security, especially in rural and low-income communities, but little is known about climate change risk to these species. Using species distribution models, we examined climate change risk to 1190 WFP species used by 19 native language groups in southern Africa. We project that 40% of species will experience a decrease in range extent within southern Africa by 2060–2080 under a low warming scenario (Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6), increasing to 66% under a high warming scenario (RCP 8.5). Decreases in geographic range are projected for >70% of WFP species traditionally used by some language groups. Loss of suitable climatic conditions is projected to decrease WFP species richness most in north-eastern southern Africa – with losses of >200 species – while increases in species richness are projected in the south and east of South Africa. Availability of WFP species for food security during lean times is also projected to change. Specifically, in south-eastern South Africa, local diversity of WFPs is projected to increase, while maize and sorghum yields decrease. However, this potential WFP nutritional safety net may be lost in central parts of the region, where declines in both crop yield and WFPs are projected. By looking beyond conventional crops to the exceptional diversity of WFPs, this research makes a first step towards understanding the linkages between WFPs, traditional knowledge, agriculture, food security, and climate change.

scholarly journals Climate Change and Food Insecurity Dynamics in the Rural Limpopo Province of South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1(J)) ◽  
pp. 22-32
Author(s):  
Abiodun Olusola Omotayo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Household Heads

In the developing nations of the world, poor gross domestic product growth has shown serious vacuum to be filled in order to achieve the sustainable development goals. In that regard, this research article intends to contribute to the sustainable development goals of the United Nation’s goal by explaining the rural food insecurity in the light of climate change dynamic in some selected rural communities of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The data employed in the study were collected from 120 randomly selected rural household heads. Data were analysed with descriptive (frequency, mean etc.) and inferential statistics (Principal component Analysis (PCA), Tobit and Probit Regression) which were properly fitted (P<0.05) for the set research objectives. Descriptive results indicate that the average age of the respondents was 52 years with 60% of the household heads being married and a mean household size of 5.The study concluded that there is climate change effect and food insecurity in the study area and therefore recommended among others that the government of South Africa should endeavour to implement a more rural focused food securityclimate change policies in order to relieve the intensity of food insecurity situations among these disadvantaged rural dwellers of the province as well as to entrench a policy of long term development of agriculture. Finally, the study emphasized that the rural farming households should be enlightened through proper extension services to carry out climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in alleviating the food insecurity situation in the rural communities of the province. 

Impacts of global climate change in a hydrologically vulnerable region: challenges to South African hydrologists

1997 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.E. Schulze
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Sensitivity Study ◽  
Hydrological Models ◽  
Climate Change Effects

South Africa is already hydrologically vulnerable and this is likely to be exacerbated by both nonpermanent ENSO-related as well as more permanently greenhouse-gas forced climate changes. Climate change effects are explained by way of the hydrological equation. This serves as a backdrop to a brief review, in a hydrological context, of projected perturbations to temperature, rainfall and potential evaporation, over southern Africa. Methodologies for simulating hydro logical responses to climate change are assessed. These include more direct GCM-derived output, with some emphasis on recent advances in climatic downscaling, and the application of appro priate hydrological models for use in impact studies. Scale problems of importance to hydrologists are highlighted. Directions to which climate change-related hydrological research efforts should be expended in South Africa are summarized, before two case study simulations, one a general sensitivity study of hydrological responses to changes in rainfall over southern Africa, the other a more specific hydrological response study to the El Niño of the 1982-83 season, are presented. The article concludes with a discussion on whether or not water resources practitioners in South Africa should respond to climate change.

scholarly journals Regional disaster risk management strategies for food security: Probing Southern African Development Community channels for influencing national policy

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Happy M. Tirivangasi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Risk Management Strategies

Natural disasters and food insecurity are directly interconnected. Climate change related hazards such as floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, droughts and other risks can weaken food security and severely impact agricultural activities. Consequently, this has an impact on market access, trade, food supply, reduced income, increased food prices, decreased farm income and employment. Natural disasters create poverty, which in turn increases the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition. It is clear that disasters put food security at risk. The poorest people in the community are affected by food insecurity and disasters; hence, there is a need to be prepared as well as be in a position to manage disasters. Without serious efforts to address them, the risks of disasters will become an increasingly serious obstacle to sustainable development and the achievement of sustainable development goals, particularly goal number 2 ‘end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’. In recent years, countries in southern Africa have experienced an increase in the frequency, magnitude and impact of climate change–related hazards such as droughts, veld fire, depleting water resources and flood events. This research aims to reveal Southern African Development Community disaster risk management strategies for food security to see how they an influence and shape policy at the national level in southern Africa. Sustainable Livelihood approach was adopted as the main theoretical framework for the study. The qualitative Analysis is based largely on data from databases such as national reports, regional reports and empirical findings on the disaster management–sustainable development nexus.

scholarly journals Seasonality, climate change, and food security during pregnancy among indigenous and non-indigenous women in rural Uganda: Implications for maternal-infant health

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0247198
Author(s):  
Julia M. Bryson ◽  
Kaitlin Patterson ◽  
Lea Berrang-Ford ◽  
Shuaib Lwasa ◽  
Didacus B. Namanya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Infant Health ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Indigenous Women ◽  
Community Based Research ◽  
Over Time

Background Climate change is expected to decrease food security globally. Many Indigenous communities have heightened sensitivity to climate change and food insecurity for multifactorial reasons including close relationships with the local environment and socioeconomic inequities which increase exposures and challenge adaptation to climate change. Pregnant women have additional sensitivity to food insecurity, as antenatal undernutrition is linked with poor maternal-infant health. This study examined pathways through which climate change influenced food security during pregnancy among Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in rural Uganda. Specific objectives were to characterize: 1) sensitivities to climate-associated declines in food security for pregnant Indigenous women; 2) women’s perceptions of climate impacts on food security during pregnancy; and 3) changes in food security and maternal-infant health over time, as observed by women. Methods Using a community-based research approach, we conducted eight focus group discussions—four in Indigenous Batwa communities and four in non-Indigenous communities—in Kanungu District, Uganda, on the subject of climate and food security during pregnancy. Thirty-six women with ≥1 pregnancy participated. Data were analysed using a constant comparative method and thematic analysis. Results Women indicated that food insecurity was common during pregnancy and had a bidirectional relationship with antenatal health issues. Food security was thought to be decreasing due to weather changes including extended droughts and unpredictable seasons harming agriculture. Women linked food insecurity with declines in maternal-infant health over time, despite improved antenatal healthcare. While all communities described food security struggles, the challenges Indigenous women identified and described were more severe. Conclusions Programs promoting women’s adaptive capacity to climate change are required to improve food security for pregnant women and maternal-infant health. These interventions are particularly needed in Indigenous communities, which often face underlying health inequities. However, resiliency among mothers was strong and, with supports, they can reduce food security challenges in a changing climate.

scholarly journals The distribution of the dwarf succulent genus Conophytum N.E.Br. (Aizoaceae) in southern Africa

Bothalia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Young ◽  
Philip G. Desmet
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
Geographical Range ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Succulent Karoo ◽  
Winter Rainfall ◽  
Rainfall Region

Background: The dwarf succulent genus Conophytum N.E.Br. is one of the most species rich in the Aizoceae. The genus is most closely associated with a region of high floral endemism and biodiversity, the Succulent Karoo biome in south-western Africa.Objectives: To examine the distribution of Conophytum in south-western Namibia and in the Northern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa.Method: A database comprising 2798 locality records representing all known species and subspecies of the genus Conophytum has been constructed.Results: The genus is primarily restricted to the arid winter-rainfall region of the Northern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa and south-western Namibia, within the Greater Cape Floristic Region. Whilst taxa are found across all the main biomes in the region (the Succulent Karoo, Nama Karoo, Desert and Fynbos biomes), 94% of Conophytum taxa are found only in the Succulent Karoo biome and predominantly (88% of taxa) within South Africa. Endemism within specific bioregions is a feature of the genus and ~60% of taxa are endemic to the Succulent Karoo. Approximately 28% of all taxa could be considered point endemics. Whilst the genus has a relatively wide geographical range, we identify a pronounced centre of endemism in the southern Richtersveld.Conclusion: The genus Conophytum can be used as a good botanical model for studying patterns of diversity and speciation in the Succulent Karoo biome, the effects of climate change on dwarf succulents, and for informing conservation planning efforts.

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