Living with variable climate in southern Africa

Southern Africa has experienced severe food shortages over the past few years. These have been caused by several factors, including climate change and variability, problems with governance (including poor risk-management, and inadequate early warning systems) and wider structural issues (such as globalisation). Many parts of the region are also vulnerable to the impacts of large-scale environmental change, including land degradation and biodiversity loss.

Science and policy efforts have focused on improved understanding of the changing climate and potential impacts, improved risk reduction at various levels and concerns around climate change mitigation. Despite these efforts, there is a growing need to better understand climate change and climate variability adaptation and mitigation within the context of wider issues in the region. Focussing only on the climate ignores the importance of these other stresses and changes. In the agricultural sector, for example, changes in agriculture practices and policies have major impacts that are exacerbated by variable climate. Coping with and adapting to such changes therefore requires a comprehensive approach.

Communities may manage climate variability more effectively if they had access to a variety of assets and capabilities. When these resources are constrained, communities struggle to adapt. In the Limpopo Province, which straddles parts of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, several studies show that improved access to various types of information, including climate information, may help communities manage various risks. Farmers who diversify and depend on a range of livelihood sources (including off-farm employment, pensions and social welfare) can improve their ability to manage risks such as drought and floods.

Coping strategies to improve the management of climate change could be combined with development activities and other long-term activities, including improved social welfare. The recent National Disaster Management Act in South Africa calls for both emergency response and longer-term risk reduction to a variety of stresses, including climate risk. Poverty reduction programmes also need careful planning and implementation to ensure continued resilience to climate change and other stresses. The challenge for scientists and policy makers is daunting but critical.

Coleen Vogel
School of Geography
Archaeology and Environmental Studies
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg
South Africa
vogelc@geoarc.wits.ac.za

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