This page provides a summary of key provincial climate change issues and links to district level climate change information. Click on the links below for more information on each of the District Municipalities in the Province.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DEDTEA) has developed the Draft Climate Change Action Plan (June 2014). The plan covers both Mitigation and Adaptation, but provides limited detail on adaptation options. For example, the key adaptation response mentioned in the plan is for sector departments to develop climate change adaptation response plans. A Status Quo Vulnerability Study of the Impacts of Climate Change in KZN Province, developed by DAEARD in 2009, provides a much more detailed assessment of climate risks.
The KZN Council for Climate Change was established in 2012 to coordinate climate change management activities in the province. However, the council has not been operational over the past two years. KwaZulu-Natal has managed to secure some climate change funding, particularly through UNIDO for mitigation activities. EThekwini Municipality has also secured funding through the Green Fund for the Buffelsdraai Community Reforestation Project.
The KZN Council for Climate Change was established in 2012 to coordinate climate change management activities in the province. However, the council has not been operational over the past two years. KwaZulu-Natal has managed to secure some climate change funding, particularly through UNIDO for mitigation activities. EThekwini Municipality has also secured funding through the Green Fund for the Buffelsdraai Community Reforestation Project.
Key Climate Change Response Issues
The table below is a summary of the key climate change response issues in the province as outlined in the StatusQuo Vulnerability Study of the Impacts of Climate Change in KZN.|
Adaptation Category |
Vulnerability Details |
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Natural systems
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Water resources |
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Fire regime
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Coastal zone |
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Agricultural sector
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Current Climate Change Gaps
The critical gap in KwaZulu-Natal is to finalise a Climate Change Strategy with clearly defined response options. The Vulnerability Assessment could be updated and would then create a foundation to develop climate change response options. The strategy should also cover potential avenues of climate financing and how this financing can be used for various response options. The KZN Council for Climate Change also needs to be re-invigorated and communication around this council could be improved (e.g posting minutes and presentation to the provincial website).Provincial Statistics
KwaZulu-Natal is the third smallest province in South Africa with an area of 94,361 square kilometres, making up 7.7% of the country's land area (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004). It is situated on the east coast of South Africa along the Indian Ocean, bordering Swaziland, Mpumalanga and Mozambique in the north, and Lesotho, the Free State and the Eastern Cape in the west. KwaZulu-Natal is divided into one metropolitan municipality (eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality) and 10 district municipalities (Figure 1), which are further subdivided into 43 local municipalities. The province has the second largest provincial economy in South Africa after Gauteng contributing R206,8 billion (16.5%) towards the country's gross domestic product. The province has an estimated population of 10,267,300, which is the second largest of all the provinces (20.6%) (Statistics South Africa 2011; Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004).The manufacturing, agriculture and forestry sectors which are spread around the province make the most notable contributions to the province's gross domestic product.Figure 1: Map of KwaZulu-Natal Province showing its Municipal boundaries.
Climate Science
KwaZulu-Natal has a subtropical climate with inland areas experiencing steady temperature decreases with increasing altitudes. Mean annual temperatures range between 20˚C and 22˚C and the mean annual rainfall is approximately 845mm. Topography in the province rises from sea level in the east to more than 3000m above sea level on the Drakensberg mountains (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004). Figure 2 shows the province's mean temperature and precipitation trends (Thornhill, Green-Govendor, and Khoza 2009).
Overall climate projections for KwaZulu-Natal include increasing average temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns and an increase in extreme weather conditions and events. Extreme weather events are already affecting livelihoods and negatively impacting the economy, and are expected to increase in frequency and intensity. KwaZulu-Natal has experienced measurable changes in sea levels and has already started to experience a number of coastal storm events which are predicted to increase (Thornhill, Green-Govendor, and Khoza 2009). The province of KwaZulu-Natal has the highest flood hazard/risk in South Africa, with the south coast being the most exposed and vulnerable area (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004; Thornhill, Green-Govendor, and Khoza 2009).
Figure 2: KwaZulu-Natal's mean annual temperature and precipitation trends (Source: Thornhill, Green-Govendor, and Khoza 2009)
Localised climate change projections
Climate change trends in the KwaZulu-Natal region are consistent with national and global climate change projections which include overall warming trends, particularly in the north-eastern, Midlands, Drakensberg, and south coast regions (Thornhill, Green-Govendor, and Khoza 2009). Wetting trends have also been observed in these regions, particularly over the month of February. The coastal belt may become more tropical and climatic shifts may result in sub-tropical conditions moving more inland.Overall climate projections for KwaZulu-Natal include increasing average temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns and an increase in extreme weather conditions and events. Extreme weather events are already affecting livelihoods and negatively impacting the economy, and are expected to increase in frequency and intensity. KwaZulu-Natal has experienced measurable changes in sea levels and has already started to experience a number of coastal storm events which are predicted to increase (Thornhill, Green-Govendor, and Khoza 2009). The province of KwaZulu-Natal has the highest flood hazard/risk in South Africa, with the south coast being the most exposed and vulnerable area (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004; Thornhill, Green-Govendor, and Khoza 2009).
Provincial Vulnerabilities
Agriculture and Food Security
The KwaZulu-Natal agricultural sector is highly susceptible to climate change as shifts in climatic zones may result in the decrease and ultimately the loss of cold to moderate climatic zones, and a potential increase in warm sub-tropical and tropical areas. This may result in positive and/or negative effects to the sector as areas of production shift and crop productivity or yields are altered. This will particularly pose a threat to the province's food security crops such as dryland maize, particularly in the Zululand, Umkhanyakude, Ugu and uMgungundlovu District Municipalities (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014; Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004).Issues of water quality and quantity are already being experienced in KwaZulu-Natal. The agricultural sector is highly dependent on water, with existing irrigation dependent activities demanding more than 50% of the water in the province. A lowering of the water table has been projected for KwaZulu-Natal which will negatively affect crop yields, whilst increasing irrigation demands (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014).
It has also been predicted that ecosystem shifts due to climate change may result in new pests and diseases in the province. Coddling moth and spotted stem borers for example, may increase their distribution ranges into KwaZulu-Natal as the climate changes. Stem borer is a risk to provincial sugarcane production, which will impact the economy, and associated human livelihoods (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014).
The intensity and frequency of fires in the province is predicted to increase due to the increase in temperatures and long dry spells. This may negatively impact on the commercial forestry industry (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014).
Furthermore, it is important to note that climate change impacts may make agriculture increasingly unfeasible as a livelihood strategy for the rural poor (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014).
Natural Resources and Biodiversity
KwaZulu-Natal is rich in biodiversity and hosts the Maputoland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot, one of the 34 most biodiverse areas in the world. Three different biomes currently exist in the province, namely the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Grasslands, and Savanna Biome (Figure 2). A wealth of plant and animal life occur in these biomes including: 19 different veld types, 32 wild ungulates, 32 indigenous carnivore species, 96 fish species and 470 bird species (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014; Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004). The province has 75 perennial rivers with the largest 19 accounting for 25% of South Africa’s mean annual runoff (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004).
Figure 2: Current biome delineation in KwaZulu-Natal
The province’s biodiversity is however under threat due to high population growth and associated development of land for food production, settlement, and infrastructure. Poor land management and unsustainable practices have also lead to the degradation of the environment, particularly within the coastal belt and inland from the south coast. The spread of alien invasive species and increase in levels of pollution have also impacted on biodiversity in the province. (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004; KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014). At least 700 species are currently threatened in the province, and between 1994 and 2000, 45% of the province’s land area had been degraded and 14% transformed (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004; KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014). These impacts on biodiversity are expected to be exacerbated with climate change. Shifts in bio-climatic zones due to climate change will cause ecosystem shifts and alterations which may result in the loss of species that are only found in this province, and an increase in alien invasive species. Land degradation in the midlands area is hampering efforts to create migratory corridors for species that may not survive higher temperatures (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014).
Health
KwaZulu-Natal has the highest human vulnerability to climatic events in South Africa and it is expected to worsen as extreme events are expected to increase in frequency and intensity (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014). In recent years, extreme weather events have negatively impacted on communities across the province resulting in damage to property, community displacements, injuries and event-related deaths. Food insecurity caused by climate change impacts on staple crop production may lead to decreased nutrition, and possibly an increase in disease. Changes in climatic conditions and ecosystem alterations may result in the expansion of the ranges of certain parasites, resulting in the emergence of new infectious diseases. Pathogens may find new hosts and mechanisms of transmitting diseases to humans. Less well-known mosquito-borne viruses such as rift valley fever and dengue may also become more prevalent if conditions become more favourable (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014).Human Settlements
KwaZulu-Natal is a relatively rural province, with about 47.5% of the total population residing in rural areas (Thornhill, Green-Govendor, and Khoza 2009). However, the highest population densities in the province can be found within towns and cities. With a population density of 1,000 per square kilometre, the city of Durban accounts for the highest population density in the province (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004). Rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal are characterised by significant levels of poverty where considerable proportion of individuals live below the basic living standard (Thornhill, Green-Govendor, and Khoza 2009).The current state of vulnerability in informal settlements within the Province is a key risk for the province. Poor populations are particularly susceptible to the impacts of extreme weather events such as droughts and floods caused by climate variability due to their inability to cope with these environmental stresses (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004). Climate change is most likely to exacerbate existing risks and vulnerabilities, and the socio-economic profile of KwaZulu-Natal makes the province even more vulnerable to climate change (Thornhill, Green-Govendor, and Khoza 2009).
Water
KwaZulu-Natal is situated within the Pongola-Umzimkulu and Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma Hydrological Zones, two of six hydrological zones in South Africa (Figure 3). KwaZulu-Natal has the highest rainfall out of all the provinces and approximately 75 perennial rivers (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004).
Figure 3: Hydrological zones in KwaZulu-Natal
In addition to water availability issues, there are also water quality challenges in the province. KwaZulu-Natal’s rivers, dams and wetlands are being contaminated with human waste, high levels of nutrients, and other pollutants. Surface water sources downstream of towns and wastewater treatment plants are especially under threat. Sewerage contamination in rivers is a key issue mostly affecting communities which are still directly dependent on river water. Formal sewerage systems are also an issue due to inadequate treatment and management, and the overflow that takes place during intense rain events (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004).
Although there are high levels of uncertainty regarding rainfall projections under conditions of a changing climate, water shortages and poor water quality conditions are projected to worsen with the changing climate. The following predictions have been outlined in the KwaZulu-Natal Climate Change Action Plan (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014).
- An increase in potential evaporation;
- The annual number of storm flow events will decrease;
- There would be an increase in recharge events;
- More variable stream flows are projected despite higher predicted flows overall;
- Stream flows will shift a month later in KwaZulu-Natal;
- Sediment yields along the east coast will decrease; and
- There would be a higher relative irrigation water demand (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014).
Marine and Coastal
KwaZulu-Natal’s 640km long coastline, with 73 estuaries, supports a large variety of marine species. The marine and coastal environment is however currently under threat due to a number of different activities including mining, shipping, pollution, and overfishing (The KZN Provincial Planning Commission 2011). The state of some of the province's estuaries is of great concern. Some estuaries have lost some of their functions which is impacting on fish species populations and may have potentially large ripple effects. Coastal and off-shore marine biodiversity is considered to be relatively healthy, however populations of some flagship species are still of concern (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development 2004). Changes in climate, including changes in rainfall, sea-level rise and temperatures will negatively impact on marine and estuarine ecosystems and species (Department of Environmental Affairs 2013).KwaZulu-Natal's coastal zone is already under severe stress due to coastal erosion and damage from recent storm events and sea level rise. Coastal storm events have increased in recent years, and climate change will further contribute to their frequency and severity. The south coast is particularly vulnerable to coastal erosion and storm events and is a high flood hazard risk. Low-lying areas on the north coast will also be affected by climate change and sea level rise (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014).
Policy and Institutional Environment
Policies and Strategies
Although national and sectoral policies and plans guide and direct climate change responses, real, on the ground climate change mitigation and adaptation will be pioneered and driven by local municipalities. The KZN Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan was developed by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in partnership with other spheres of government, research institutions, industry and the community of KwaZulu- Natal. These stakeholders have committed to lead climate change response in the province. This will be achieved by developing an action plan and strategy, ultimately ensuring implementation of associated programmes and plans (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014).The following institutional and policy-related adaptation options are listed in the KZN Draft Climate Change action plan:
- Describe and prioritise what adaptation interventions must be initiated, who should be driving these interventions and how implementation will be monitored.
- Incorporate climate information into all municipal plans
- Comply with obligations as per the Disaster Management Act, veld and forest fire management.
- Avoid building in flood line areas, and investigate possible revisions to flood line estimations. Investigate and prioritise existing and planned strategies and actions that indirectly support climate change adaptation.
- Design and maintenance of stormwater infrastructure.
- Demand-side water management- Municipal developments to include water and energy savings
- Local Economic Development strategies that incorporate climate realities (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014)
Some of the existing forums and committees on climate change in the province include:
KZN Council for Climate Change and Sustainable Development: The council was established in 2012 to coordinate climate change management activities in the province. The council also serves as a provincial platform, ensuring regular dialogue and consultations on climate change related policies, plans, programmes, projects and activities. It functions on a committee basis comprising of representatives from government departments, municipalities, government entities,etc (DAED) with technical and policy elements. The Council has set up three Working Groups, namely Policy and Regulatory Alignment Working Group; Adaptation and Mitigation Working Group; and, Renewable Energy Working Group. Unfortunately, this Council has not met for the last two years.
The Central KwaZulu-Natal Climate Change Compact (CKZNCCC): This compact aims to create a platform where local governments in the province of KwaZulu-Natal share climate change information and experience in order to build capacity in the climate change field.
KZN Renewable Energy Working Group: promotes the Green Economy to improve synergies between government departments as well as between government and business in renewable energy related projects and initiatives. The Group is chaired by the Department of Economic Affairs and Tourism. KZN Trade and Investment, which is a government entity, plays a major project implementation role (DAED).
Climate Change Group participation: During COP17 the province was approached by the Climate Change Group, a regional body comprising of sub-nations or provinces of the world with an aim to promote the understanding of climate change issues and promote actioning of climate change impact management plans at that level of government. It also provides a platform for discussion and debate on different aspects of Climate Change Management by various sub-nations (DAED).
Provincial Disaster Management Committee: This committee includes COGTA and the provincial water boards.
KZN Green Growth: The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism's (KZNDEDT) Green Economy Unit is the key provincial organisation that is trying to pursue green development, or the green economy, and was formed after the province commissioned research to understand the potential for its application. The research showed that there was a real opportunity for stimulating green economy initiatives in KZN. A website aimed at covering the main developments, opportunities and resources in the green economy sector in KwaZulu-Natal was developed. The website is the major tool used to disseminate green economy related information such as research reports, articles, presentations, events notices, funding notices and business linkages.
The following sub-directorates of the Provincial department of environmental affairs are also listed in the KZN Draft Climate Change action plan (KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs 2014) as having specific climate change responsibilities:
- Environmental Planning & Coordination Services
- Environmental Planning, Governance & Information Management
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Environmental Empowerment & Sustainable livelihoods
- Coastal & Biodiversity Management
- Pollution & Waste Management
- Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement
- Air Quality & Climate Change
- Invasive Alien Species Programme (KZNCCAP, 2014)
Climate Change Budget and Finance
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This website is a work in progress and is constantly updated as new information becomes available
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