Climate Change and South Africa: A Critical Analysis of the<i>Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and Another v Minister of Energy and Others 65662/16 (2017)</i>Case and the Drive for Concrete Climate Practices

Bank, Marjoné van der; Karsten, J. L.

doi:10.1177/1178622119885372

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(12 reference statements)

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“…Among these, topography is one of the five major soil surface formation factors (Jenny, 1994). Topography affects soil erosion and thus affects SOC's spatial distribution either directly or indirectly (Sun et al, 2010;Rodrigo-Comino et al, 2016Cagnarini et al, 2019;Cerdà and Rodrigo-Comino, 2020). Several studies have demonstrated the effects of topography and soil erosion on SOC's distribution (Beguería et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation Restoration Alleviated the Soil Surface Organic Carbon Redistribution in the Hillslope Scale on the Loess Plateau, China

Liang

Zha

et al. 2021

Front. Environ. Sci.

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The redistribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) in response to soil erosion along the loess slope, China, plays an important role in understanding the mechanisms that underlie SOC’s spatial distribution and turnover. Consequently, SOC redistribution is key to understanding the global carbon cycle. Vegetation restoration has been identified as an effective method to alleviate soil erosion on the Loess Plateau; however, little research has addressed vegetation restoration’s effect on the SOC redistribution processes, particularly SOC’s spatial distribution and stability. This study quantified the SOC stock and pool distribution on slopes along geomorphic gradients in naturally regenerating forests (NF) and an artificial black locust plantation (BP) and used a corn field as a control (CK). The following results were obtained: 1) vegetation restoration, particularly NF, slowed the migration of SOC and reduced the heterogeneity of its distribution effectively. The topsoil SOC ratios of the sedimentary area to the stable area were 109%, 143%, and 210% for NF, BP, and CK, respectively; 2) during migration, vegetation restoration decreased the loss of labile organic carbon by alleviating the loss of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and easily oxidized organic carbon (EOC). The DOC/SOC in the BP and NF increased significantly and was 13.14 and 17.57 times higher, respectively, than that in the CK (p < 0.05), while the EOC/SOC in the BP and NF was slightly higher than that in the CK. A relevant schematic diagram of SOC cycle patterns and redistribution along the loess slope was drawn under vegetation restoration. The results suggest that vegetation restoration in the loess slope, NF in particular, is an effective means to alleviate the redistribution and spatial heterogeneity of SOC and reduce soil erosion.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation Restoration Alleviated the Soil Surface Organic Carbon Redistribution in the Hillslope Scale on the Loess Plateau, China

Liang

Zha

et al. 2021

Front. Environ. Sci.

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“…Despite these interventions and progress made in domesticating SDG 13, there are concerns that the nation may not achieve SDG 13. The anticipated impacts that climate variability is expected to exert on crucial sectors such as water, agriculture and biodiversity, which are necessary for economic advancement (van der Bank and Karsten, 2020), coupled with the nation’s limited capacity to cope with challenges posed by CC (Ziervogel et al, 2014) may compromise the actualization of SDG 13. Also, Amusan and Olutola (2017) assert that the millions of people whose households, livelihoods and businesses are powered by coal might be a major stumbling block, as making changes here may inherently mean that poverty will be exacerbated.…”

Section: Pursuance Of Sdg 13 In South Africa: Where Precisely Are We?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Ebhuoma

2021

Journal of Asian and African Studies

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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.

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“…The western regions of South Africa are projected to have 30% reduced water availability by 2050 [5]. Van der Bank and Karsten [6] argue that over the last five decades, annual temperatures have increased by approximately 1.5 times in South Africa and 0.65 • C globally. According to the World Economic and Social Survey conducted by Savelli et al [7] in South Africa, poor and marginalised individuals are likely to experience the worst impacts of future water shortages.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overcoming Bureaucratic Resistance: An Analysis of Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation in South Africa

Sibiya

Das

Vogel

et al. 2023

Climate

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Climate change is already a reality, and it is affecting the lives and livelihoods of many people globally. Many scientists argue that adaptation is, therefore, necessary to address the impact of climate change on life-supporting systems. Climate change adaptation, however, is a complex process that involves transformations implemented through governance at multiple levels. In this paper, the barriers to climate change adaptation in South Africa are presented and analysed. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted telephonically and online via Microsoft Teams with 13 government officials working at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment; the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs; and the uMkhanyakude District Municipality. The findings suggest that the barriers to climate change adaptation in South Africa include inadequate financial resources, a lack of human capacity at the provincial and local levels, limited political will at the local level, limited understanding of climate change adaptation issues by communities, inadequate coordination across government levels and sectors, no legal mandate at the local level, no climate change unit at the district and local levels, a lack of knowledge by some staff members tasked with environmental duties at the local level, not enough climate change plans in place at the local level, and outdated information on climate change used in the IDPs. This paper, therefore, recommends that climate change be a standing item in the Integrated Development Plan for local governments, which will ensure that climate change is budgeted for appropriately. In addition, this paper suggests that a mandate for climate change adaptation be developed for all three government levels. There is also a need for the government to invest in capacity development and improve horizontal and vertical coordination to strengthen the weak climate governance capacity that exists.

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Climate Change and South Africa: A Critical Analysis of theEarthlife Africa Johannesburg and Another v Minister of Energy and Others 65662/16 (2017)Case and the Drive for Concrete Climate Practices

Cited by 17 publications

References 7 publications

Vegetation Restoration Alleviated the Soil Surface Organic Carbon Redistribution in the Hillslope Scale on the Loess Plateau, China

Vegetation Restoration Alleviated the Soil Surface Organic Carbon Redistribution in the Hillslope Scale on the Loess Plateau, China

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

Overcoming Bureaucratic Resistance: An Analysis of Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation in South Africa

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