Sustainable livelihood adaptation strategies to climate change in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Authors: Nzante, Ekiyie
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Global warming -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22924 , vital:30146
- Description: The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) is in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is comprised of Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, Seaview, Despatch and Blue Horizon Bay. The municipality spans 100 km of coastline and is responsible for 44% of the province’s gross geographical product. In past years the NMBM has experienced problems related to severe climate change, such as storm surges, floods and droughts, which have affected the livelihood of the people. Generally, the NMBM is looked upon as a vulnerable region with regard to climate change because of environmental stressors compounded by recurrent droughts and floods that limit the community’s capacity to cope and adapt effectively. This research explored the existing livelihood strategies set to adapt to the effects of climate change in the municipal area and assessed how effective these strategies are. It proposed sustainable solutions to livelihood problems as climate change consequences were accentuated within the municipal area. The study employed a qualitative research approach whereby data was collected by means of strategic interviews, document analysis, participant observation, focus groups and a study of existing literature. A total of 38 respondents were interviewed using a self-administered questionnaire and 5 focus groups participated in the study. The data was collected within the NMBM over a period of 9 months. The concept of sustainable livelihood (SL) was used to assess the effectiveness of the livelihood strategies implemented in the NMBM to adapt to climate change. The study findings primarily disclosed that certain livelihood strategies exist in the NMBM, such as the hydroponics projects. These strategies are ineffective due to the lack of capital and poor leadership within the municipality. Based on these findings several recommendations were made, for example, the implementation of a household credit system and the creation of a community environmental education programme, amongst others. These will speak not only to a short-term mitigation model of climate change, but would be capable of ensuring a long-term scenario and also create sustainable livelihoods for the people of the NMBM.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Improving socio-ecological resilience strategies of climate change in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole
- Authors: Nzante, Ekiyie
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Forest resilience -- Climatic factors -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Global warming -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9145 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018823
- Description: The Kyoto Protocol of UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) postulated that anthropogenic causes are the main drivers of global climate change. This Kyoto Protocol was ratified by South Africa, with South Africa accepting all the binding commitments. Since then South Africa has promulgated legislations which cater for the environment and the reduction of the greenhouse gases respectively, with the aim of promoting sustainable development. The South African constitution has recognised the environment in Section 24. This is the birth place of the “Environmental Clauses” which do not only speak to the national government but are also broken down to the provincial and local government. This study was grounded within the field of Development studies and undertook a case study of improving the socio-ecological resilience strategies of climate changes in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole (NMBM). The study employed the use of semi-structure interviews whereby a questionnaire was used to guide the researcher in the interview process. A total of 23 officials were interviewed, ranging from governmental departments (municipality) through civil societies to private consultants, in order to avoid the generation of biases. The data obtained from respondents were presented, analysed, and discussed. From the data collected, it was possible to single out certain barriers to climate change resilience initiative in NMBM. Some of these barriers include the lack of awareness of climate change resilience issues, lack of political will, lack of funding, and the poor concern given to climate change issues since the municipality does not consider it a core issue. Based on the study findings, the main recommendation offered to NMBM was the creation of a Sustainable Development Framework, which will provide a perfect platform for development, acknowledge the threat posed by the negative effects of climate change, and enhance opportunities to execute climate change projects in NMBM.
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- Date Issued: 2011