Understanding Water-Food-Energy Nexus in the Climate Change Era and the Roadmap to Implementation in South Africa

2022 ◽  
pp. 332-353
Author(s):  
Joan Mwihaki Nyika
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Cooperative Management ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Management Of Resources

WFE nexus is an important aspect in building sustainable economies. Water is used in food production while water supply and food processing require energy. Understanding the interrelationships of the nexus components is a growing interest for researchers and policymakers towards sustainable development. This chapter analyses the in-depth meaning of the WFE nexus, its importance, and its involved processes. The chapter also evaluates the effects of climate change on the nexus using case examples in South Africa. It also proposes a road map to facilitate better management of the nexus by recommending useful action plans. These action plans prioritize on baseline data collection, optimization of WFE nexus processes and cooperative management of resources, and climate change adaptation.

Understanding Water-Food-Energy Nexus in the Climate Change Era and the Roadmap to Implementation in South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 158-185
Author(s):  
Joan Mwihaki Nyika
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Cooperative Management ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Management Of Resources

WFE nexus is an important aspect in building sustainable economies. Water is used in food production while water supply and food processing require energy. Understanding the interrelationships of the nexus components is a growing interest for researchers and policymakers towards sustainable development. This chapter analyses the in-depth meaning of the WFE nexus, its importance, and its involved processes. The chapter also evaluates the effects of climate change on the nexus using case examples in South Africa. It also proposes a road map to facilitate better management of the nexus by recommending useful action plans. These action plans prioritize on baseline data collection, optimization of WFE nexus processes and cooperative management of resources, and climate change adaptation.

Climate change impacts on water resources in a rural community in Limpopo province, South Africa: a community-based adaptation to water insecurity

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-598
Author(s):  
Sejabaledi Agnes Rankoana
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adaptation Practices ◽  
Community Based Adaptation

Purpose The study explored the impacts of climate change on water resources, and the community-based adaptation practices adopted to ensure water security in a rural community in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The participatory approach was used to allow community members to share their challenges of water scarcity, and the measures they have developed to cope with inconsistent water supply. Findings The study results show that the community obtains water for household consumption from the reticulation system supplied by Mutale River and the community borehole. These resources are negatively impacted by drought, change in the frequency and distribution of rainfall, and increased temperature patterns. The water levels in the river and borehole have declined, resulting in unsustainable water supply. The community-based adaptation practices facilitated by the water committee include observance of restrictions and regulations on the water resources use. Others involve securing water from neighbouring resources. Originality/value This type of community-based action in response to climate change could be used as part of rural water management strategies under 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. 

scholarly journals Perspectives on integrated water resource management and its relevance in understanding the water-energy-climate change nexus in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 11-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Matome Mathetsa ◽  
Mulala Danny Simatele ◽  
Isaac T. Rampedi ◽  
Gerhard Gericke
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Integrated Water Resource Management ◽  
Development Goals

It is increasingly acknowledged that the water-energy-climate change (WECC) nexus is one of the synergies that pose a significant risk to achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs), specifically numbers six, seven and thirteen. There are suggestions that climate change outcomes such as increased temperature and drought episodes have implications for water availability, which in turn affects energy production in countries dependent on hydropower, pump-storage or coal-generated electricity, including South Africa. This development therefore calls for improved understanding of how to effectively manage the challenges that arise from this nexus, to mitigate the impacts it may have on achieving the associated SDGs. This study, which is based on an in-depth appraisal of existing developments, assessed the potential of the integrated water resource management framework in understanding the WECC nexus and its implications for South Africa’s sustainable development endeavours, particularly in the context of water resource management and utilisation. The study revealed South Africa’s lack of integrated, effective, and efficient institutions and policy framework to comprehensively manage the challenges emanating from this nexus. It identified an urgent need to develop systems and processes through which South Africa can handle the challenges as well as capture the benefits that may be obtained from this nexus.

Renewable energy choices and their water requirements in South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 80-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Sparks ◽  
Amos Madhlopa ◽  
Samantha Keen ◽  
Mascha Moorlach ◽  
Anthony Dane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Water Withdrawal ◽  
Water Requirements

South Africa is an arid country, where water supply is often obtained from a distant source. There is increasing pressure on the limited water resources due to economic and population growth, with a concomitant increase in the energy requirement for water production. This problem will be exacerbated by the onset of climate change. Recently, there have been concerns about negative impacts arising from the exploitation of energy resources. In particular, the burning of fossil fuels is significantly contributing to climate change through the emission of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. In addition, fossil fuels are being depleted, and contributing to decreased energy security. As a result of this, the international community has initiated various interventions, including the transformation of policy and regulatory instruments, to promote sustainable energy. With this in mind, South Africa is making policy and regulatory shifts in line with international developments. Renewable energy is being promoted as one way of achieving sustainable energy provision in the country. However, some issues require scrutiny in order to understand the water footprint of renewable energy production. Due to the large gap that exists between water supply and demand, trade-offs in water allocation amongst different users are critical. In this vein, the main objective of this study was to investigate and review renewable energy choices and water requirements in South Africa. Data were acquired through a combination of a desktop study and expert interviews. Water withdrawal and consumption levels at a given stage of energy production were investigated. Most of the data was collected from secondary sources. Results show that there is limited data on all aspects of water usage in the production chain of energy, accounting in part for the significant variations in the values of water intensity that are reported in the literature. It is vital to take into account all aspects of the energy life cycle to enable isolation of stages where significant amounts of water are used. It is found that conventional fuels (nuclear and fossil fuels) withdraw significant quantities of water over the life-cycle of energy production, especially for thermoelectric power plants operated with a wet-cooling system. The quality of water is also adversely affected in some stages of energy production from these fuels. On the other hand, solar photovoltaic and wind energy exhibit the lowest demand for water, and could perhaps be considered the most viable renewable options in terms of water withdrawal and consumption.

The Fight Against Climate Change From an Indigenous System Perspective

2022 ◽  
pp. 45-59
Author(s):  
Stewart Lee Kugara ◽  
Thizwilondi Joanbeth Madima ◽  
Ndidzulafhi Esther Ramavhunga
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
African Continent ◽  
System Perspective ◽  
Indigenous Epistemologies ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Biodiversity Decline

The 21st century has witnessed that climate change has become an acute daily agony. In Africa, to be specific, it has made the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals a myth. It is argued that the implications of climate change are evident in numerous ways on the African continent: incessant floods, cyclones, droughts, and heat waves. These have introduced disastrous outcomes: a heightened threat of food security, inadequate water resource availability, diminished biodiversity, decline in human health viability, and increasing land degradation. At the centre of all this, a more robust understanding of climate change and appropriate palliatives is called for. In South Africa, conservation by the state and numerous stakeholders on the thorny issue of climate change has tended to favour and privilege Western scientific interpretations at the expense of the “indigenous” interpretations as informed by their indigenous epistemologies.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Hard Lockdown in South Africa: Lessons for Climate Stakeholders Pursuing the Thirteenth Sustainable Development Goal

2021 ◽  
pp. 002190962110439
Author(s):  
Eromose E. Ebhuoma
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Index Case ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Green Growth ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Media Reports

As a result of South Africa recording its first COVID-19 index case in March 2020, the country imposed one of the strictest lockdowns globally. The lockdown unearthed vital lessons that climate practitioners both in South Africa – the largest emitter of greenhouse gases on the African continent – and globally can draw from to facilitate the achievement of the thirteenth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 13). Drawing on secondary data analysis of media reports regarding South Africa’s strategy to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with particular emphasis on the hard lockdown, three themes emerged. These were rephrased to align appropriately with the discourse on climate change (CC). These include changing the distant framing narrative of CC, prioritizing green growth and utilizing credible messengers. Each theme is discussed critically in terms of how it will aid climate policy developers and practitioners in facilitating the attainment of SDG 13.

scholarly journals Climate change impacts and effects on health system: A challenge towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 950-967
Author(s):  
Happy Mathew Tirivangasi ◽  
Sejabaledi Agnes Rankoana ◽  
Louis Nyahunda
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
The World ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

The aim of this paper is to present climate change health related effects that may pose a challenge for South Africa to attain South Africa’s plans to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) 3. It examined South Africa’s preparedness to address the impacts of climate change in order to best achieve SDGs 3. Climate change is a challenging phenomenon, which has seen many people around the world being affected by its effects unaware and unprepared. Climate change affects weather patterns, for instance rainfall patterns and temperatures. Consequently, this resulted in draughts, floods, diseases, veld fires, high temperatures, changing times of floods occurrences and depleted water resources in Africa and the rest of the world. This has placed human life in danger. Considering the increasing burden of diseases, the United Nations (UN) adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address of poverty, hunger disease and want by 2030. However, climate change threatens the ability of countries to achieve this by the anticipated time. The researchers conducted an extensive content analysis by interrogating various sources of literatures sources that include journal articles, thesis, academic books, and documents written by the government of South Africa. The study reveals that that climate related deaths will increase between 2030 and 2050 due to these health impacts of climate change. The study reveals that South Africa, like many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa faces threat of vector borne diseases, mental health, malnutrition, and diarrheal, and other disease resulting from water scarcity and heat waves. This comes because of high prevalence of drought, floods, and increased temperatures. The study recommends early awareness and new communication strategies for the promotion of mental health, heat education campaign and prevention of vector borne diseases.  

scholarly journals Climate change: A threat towards achieving ‘Sustainable Development Goal number two’ (end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture) in South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shingirai S. Mugambiwa ◽  
Happy M. Tirivangasi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
The Impact

This article aims to assess the impacts of climate change towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal number two (SDG 2) as well as examining the poverty alleviation strategies by subsistence farmers in South Africa. Widespread hunger and poverty continue to be among the most life-threatening problems confronting mankind. Available statistics show that global poverty remains a serious challenge around the world. Across the globe, one in five people lives on less than $1 a day and one in seven suffers from chronic hunger. Similarly, the developing world is adversely affected by poverty and hunger. In the sub-Saharan Africa, research has revealed a higher prevalence of hunger, malnutrition, poverty and food insecurity. SDG 2 focuses more on eliminating hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture. The study employed an exploratory design and a qualitative method. Snowball sampling was used in selecting relevant sources which led the researchers to other research work on the same field through keywords and reference lists. The researchers employed discourse analysis to analyse data. The study discovered that there are numerous potential effects climate change could have on agriculture. It affects crop growth and quality and livestock health. Farming practices could also be affected as well as animals that could be raised in particular climatic areas. The impact of climate change as well as the susceptibility of poor communities is very immense. The article concludes that climate change reduces access to drinking water, negatively affects the health of people and poses a serious threat to food security.

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