Mpumalanga District Municipalities | Mpumalanga Workshops |
Provincial Climate Change Summary
Mpumalanga Province has a climate change Adaptation Strategy (2015) and Vulnerability Assessment. As with the Limpopo Province, the Mpumalanga adaptation strategy provides a comprehensive summary of the key adaptation issues and respective response options. However there is currently no action plan with associated responsibilities for these response options.
Key Climate Change Response Issues
The table below is a summary of the key climate change adaptation response options, as outlined in the Mpumalanga Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.
Adaptation Category |
Adaptation Responses |
Agriculture |
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Forestry |
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Rural and Urban Livelihoods and Settlements |
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Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems |
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Tourism |
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Water Supply |
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Human Health |
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Disaster Management |
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Current Climate Change Gaps
Provincial Statistics
Mpumalanga Province is situated in the northeast of South Africa, sharing its north and south east borders with Mozambique and Swaziland, and its national borders with Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. Most of the provincial land is on the high plateau grasslands of the Middleveld, with mountainous regions in the north-eastern parts of the province. Mpumalanga is the second-smallest province after Gauteng, covering an area of 76,495 square kilometers (6.3% of of South Africa's land area). The province has a population of 4,229,300 people making up 7.8% of South Africa's total population. Mpumalanga comprises of 21 municipalities: three districts (Ehlanzeni, Nkangala and Gert Sibande) further divided into 18 local municipalities. It's capital city is Mbombela, previously known as Nelspruit, located in the Mbombela Local Municipality and is the administrative and business hub of the Lowveld (MCCVA, 2015; MPSoER, 2008; Odunyi et al., 2013). Mpumalanga is rich in coal reserves and therefore has substantial coal mining activity and an active mining sector. It produces close to 90% of South Africa's coal and is home to three of the biggest coal power stations in Southern Africa. Other important mineral resources mined in the area include chrome, steel, vanadium, asbestos, magnesite, iron ore, vanadium, limestone, dolomite, silica and construction materials some of which are an important source of exports for South Africa (PGDS, 2004). In addition to mining, other major sectors in the province include forestry and agriculture. The province has a large fruit and vegetable market which accounts for a significant percentage contribution towards the province's economy (PGDS, 2004).Climate science
Mpumalanga has a sub-tropical climate characterised by hot summers and mild to cool winters shifting to cold and frosty conditions in the highveld regions. World Climate Data presented in the province's Vulnerability Assessment Report shows that current mean annual temperatures are highest in the north-west and north-east regions of the province, while mean annual precipitation tends to increase towards the eastern regions of the province. The province is characterised by summer rainfall and thunderstorms, with the exception of the escarpment which receives fair levels of precipitation throughout the year (MCCVA, 2015).Localised climate change projections
Climate change projections point towards increases in annual temperatures by at least 2°C in the next two decades (between 2015 and 2035) and higher increases over extended periods possibly reaching 4-6.5°C temperature increases in extreme scenarios. Rainfall averages are predicted to decrease in the long term, characterised by drying in the associated regions, particularly through the summer months. Precipitation patterns will display greater variability, with increasing rainfall in the winter months and an overall increase in heavy rainfall events and thunderstorms. Rainfall projections however show high levels of uncertainty with some models projecting a decrease in precipitation in the long term, while others suggest a moderate increase in the total volume of rainfall in the region (MCASR, 2015; MCCVA, 2015; Odunyi et al., 2013). The two most significant climate change projections are increases in average temperatures and rainfall variability with associated impacts shown in Table 1 below:Table 1: Types of impacts linked to climate variability in Mpumalanga (Source: MCCVA, 2015).
Climate Variability |
Type of Change |
Impacts |
Temperature Rise |
Increased number of warm and very hot days, and increased daily maximum temperatures |
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Change in Rainfall |
Increased number of consecutive dry days |
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Increased number of wet days and/or increase in extreme (heavy) precipitation events |
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Variability or change in the timing of precipitation |
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Climate change impacts in the agricultural sector appear to be cross cutting, affecting other critical areas in the province as it plays an essential role and is often at the core of human livelihood, poverty eradication and food security (MCCVA, 2015). In view of the province's climate change vulnerability and associated risks and impacts, adaptation measures which have been recommended as outlined in the Provincial Climate Change Adaptation report include the following:
- Formally establish and strengthen strategic long-term partnerships for Climate Smart Agriculture and foster collaboration with key organisations
- Secure, dedicate, and allocate substantial funding to carry out studies within the province
- Fund and implement a comprehensive climate change awareness and skills-building programme within the farming communities
- Conduct further research into the development of more climate resilient trees
- Revise site classification models
- Review Disaster Management Plan for Forestry (MCASR, 2015)
Biodiversity
Mpumalanga is high in biodiversity with biodiversity rich areas covering close to 100 square kilometers of land, most of which is currently unprotected (PGDS, 2004). A total of 18.1% of the province is under formal biodiversity protection within national parks, provincial parks or private reserves (EGDP, 2011). While the province has a few protected areas, there is a great need for site specific protection and conservation of these biodiversity rich areas (MPSoER, 2008). Additionally, existing legal protection policies and tools for sensitive habitats are unclear placing climate sensitive species at risk due to habitat loss. Mpumalanga has three recognised centres of endemism and one proposed centre. It boasts 68 vegetation types: 9 forest types, 28 grasslands and 31 savannas. Close to 40% of land within Mpumalanga has been transformed, primarily within the grassland biome which is the most threatened ecosystem in the province (MCCVA, 2015). Grassland areas are most likely to be replaced by the savanna biome, with species currently present at higher elevations replaced by species from lower elevations, which move up with warmer temperatures. Warmer temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will support the growth of wooded plants and trees, edging out grasses. Grasslands provide essential ecosystem services and changes to this biome will threaten endemic species. Savannas are currently the second most dominant ecosystem in the province and although appearing to have low sensitivity to temperature changes, savannas are dependent on rainfall during their germination stage. Climate change impacts on vegetation will also affect wildlife distribution in the Kruger National Park presenting significant implications for the province's tourism industry which is heavily driven by game and nature tourism (MCCVA, 2015). Figure 3 below displays the systematic biodiversity map of biodiversity priority areas in Mpumalanga which can be used by planners and decision-makers in a range of sectors.Adaptation measures recommended in the Provincial Climate Change Response Strategy for the biodiversity sector are to:
- Develop a specialised climate change management programme to focus on protection of Mpumalanga’s two main terrestrial ecosystems in the face of climate change
- Identify and integrate specific climate change related priorities and metrics when next revising the Mpumalanga Biodiversity Sector Plan (MBSP)
- Expand protected areas and promote the protected area expansion strategy
- Enhance the use of ecological infrastructure to create natural buffers that create resilience against extreme weather events (MCASR, 2015)
Health
The province's health sector is currently not functioning effectively and is considered to be under-capacitated. Public health in the province is also considered to be "facing a state of collapse" (MCASR, 2015). Climate change impacts will most likely exacerbate the current situation resulting in the rise of communicable, diarrheal, respiratory, vector and water borne diseases. The spread of disease will impact human livelihood in a province which already has poor public health status, has low health indices, and inadequate sanitation and health facilities (MCASR, 2015; MCCVA, 2015). Studies suggest that there is a high probability that Mpumalanga will become a malaria zone by 2050 if no control measures are implemented (Odunyi et al., 2013; Van Schalkwyk, 2008). Air quality is also a priority area (mitigation component) as studies show that air quality in this area is the poorest in South Africa (MPSoER, 2008). Climate change impacts in the province are therefore expected to affect the basic requirements for a healthy society, such as clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food resources and secure shelter. Additionally impacts from increased temperatures, heat waves, changes in rainfall regimes, and extreme weather events will pose further stress and pressure on vulnerable communities (MCASR, 2015).Adaptation measure recommendations under the health sector of the Provincial Climate Change Response Strategy are to:
- Formally join, participate in, and leverage capacity and information from global climate change health networks and knowledge-sharing platforms
- Secure, dedicate, and allocate substantial funding for better climate related health surveillance and monitoring in the province and to carry out studies within Mpumalanga on health impacts of climate change.
- Fund and implement a comprehensive public health and climate change awareness and adaptive capacity building programme (MCASR, 2015).
Human Settlements
- Devote resources to identifying and providing training on alternate sources of livelihood for different regions and communities within the province
- Create and strengthen support business development mechanisms for smallholder farmers
- Redouble efforts to improve overall socio-economic security and wellbeing
- Improve building practices and strengthen monitoring
- Leverage existing financial mechanisms
- Enhance disaster management and response
- Improve information dissemination
- Make better use of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act - SPLUMA (MCASR, 2015)
Marine and Aquatic Ecosystems
Water
- Establish a cross-sectoral, inter-departmental governance framework to help integrate and mainstream climate change adaptation into all water related operations.
- Ensure that proposed water related infrastructure projects explicitly integrate climate change resilience into their planning and design stages.
- Raise performance and efficiency of water service delivery for domestic use, with aggressive quantitative targets (MCASR, 2015).
Disaster Management
- Secure, dedicate, and allocate funding for research on specific climate-related disaster risks for Mpumalanga, based on climate change scenarios, including identifying geographic hotspots for each major disaster type.
- Develop and implement public awareness and training programmes based on this evidence base to educate people about climate change related disaster risks and responses.
- Strengthen overall disaster prevention, disaster management, and disaster response in the province through broad-based capacity building of first responders and relevant officials.
Extractives/Mining
- Establish a long-term climate change and health programme for the mining sector in the province:
- Organize an annual conference or symposium in the province focused on the mining industry’s response to climate change:
- Fund a province-specific assessment of water related climate change risk to the mining industry in Mpumalanga (MCASR, 2015)
Tourism
- Formally establish and draw resources to a scientific research project to better understand the impact of ecosystem and biodiversity changes on the tourism sector in Mpumalanga.
- Identify suitable buffers around protected areas so as not to negatively impact on tourism on reserves.
- Identify most sensitive or vulnerable tourist sites and site-specific adaptation measures (MCASR, 2015).
Policy and Institutional Environment
Policies and strategies
Mpumalanga Climate Adaptation Strategy Report: The report was developed over a five month period with the Department of Environmental Affairs, funded by GIZ. It was developed through a two phased process with the first phase of three months dedicated to conducting climate change vulnerability assessments in the province, to assess and identify sectors which are most at risk and vulnerable to climatic change which have been classified as high priorities areas for which adaptation strategies are required. The strategy report presents a brief situational analysis of each prioritised sector; highlights the sectors vulnerability to climate change; presents adaptation opportunities in Mpumalanga and South Africa; presents case studies, Lessons and best practices from other countries; and lastly climate adaptation measures to be considered by the sector. The report provides recommendations for the development of strategies per sector speaking into the different areas and proposes departmental involvement, management, partnerships, institutional arrangements and funding. The Adaptation Strategy Report was developed with the purpose of having it later translated into implementable and actionable adaptation plans.Structures
The Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land & Environment Affairs (DARDLEA) is the lead department that coordinates climate change for Mpumalanga. There are however only two environmental control officers (one in pollution and waste management, the other in environmental policy planning) that have climate change included as a small part of their job descriptions, and these officers have other responsibilities as well. These officers currently play a coordinating role of climate change related issues in the province.
According to a recent workshop with provincial stakeholders on the 13 June 2016, it was highlighted that a provincial climate change forum will be formally instituted on the 12th and 13th of July 2016. The forum will include representatives from different departments and sectors including external NGOs and research institutions.
Prior to this, officials from different departments were meeting on an ad hoc basis to discuss climate change issues, and a number forums included elements of climate change. Staff from Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land & Environment Affairs (DARDLEA) were familiar with these forums and were participating in some of them to raise climate change issues.These forums include:
- Provincial Outbreak Response Task Team (Health)
- Catchment Management Forums (Crocodile, Usuthu and Komati)
- Disaster Management Advisory Forum
- Fire Protection Associations
- Mpumalanga Freight and Logistics Forum
- Provincial Transport Planning Forum
- Construction Forum
- Terrestrial species specific forums
- Pests and Forestry Forum
- COGTA energy forum
- RAMDEK- A forum that looks at mining applications.
Communication of climate change information
At a recent workshop held with provincial stakeholders on the 13 June 2016, stakeholders agreed that accessing information on climate change was a challenge and that climate change information was “not flowing” down from national and other departments. Stakeholders stated that they are dependent on networks and referrals to access climate related information, and that it often depends on “who you know” to access climate change information. It was highlighted by participants that the development of a provincial climate change forum would greatly assist in sharing and communicating climate related information but it was also suggested that existing forums should be used to disseminate climate change information, such as the existing disaster management forums.Research
- MTPA - Scientific services work with University of Cape Town
- Health Department – Established a relationship with WITS and Pretoria University.
- DARDLEA- In 2014 worked with the CSIR to develop a climate change manual for school learners.
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)- Established a relationship CSIR and Institute for Forestry Research at the University of Pretoria.
Programs
- Mpumalanga climate change literacy programme: A manual for environmental educators and teachers (MPSoER, 2008)
- Mpumalanga Youth Against Climate Change: The group has been involved in projects or programmes concerning climate change. They have also done presentations at schools and gatherings in and outside eMalahleni Mpumalanga Action Voices.
- Funding from SEDA for solar water heaters.