Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa
Mukheibir, P., Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa
This paper considers existing coping strategies in times of climate variability and proposes long- term strategies for dealing with future projected climate change and variability. A qualitative strategy assessment methodology is proposed and tested for climate conditions in the Northern Cape. The analysis of the results suggests that dry sanitation, education projects and tariff structures are identified as being the most useful strategies. Key factors which were perceived to inhibit the implementation of appropriate drought adaptation strategies are the lack of local capacity and the low financial resource base to cover the capital and running costs of most of the strategies. With the likelihood of increased future rainfall variability, it is important that planners and decision-makers take into account the effects of climate change and variability on water resources. In so doing, they need to adopt sustainable water supply and demand solutions for the longer term.
Climate change; Enzyme inhibition; Municipal engineering; Rain; Sanitation; Water supply; Climate variability; Decision makers; Northern Cape; Water management; Climate change; Enzyme inhibition; Municipal engineering; Rain; Sanitation; Water management; Water supply; assessment method; capacity building; climate effect; climate variation; coping strategy; decision making; local adaptation; sanitation; sustainability; tariff structure; water management; water resource; water supply; Africa; Northern Cape; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa