Strengthening Marine and Coastal EbA in Climate Policies in Southern Africa

The document assesses the state of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in Southern Africa, finding that while there is growing political commitment and various local success stories, marine concerns are frequently overshadowed by terrestrial issues in national climate policies. It identifies significant hurdles to implementation, including capacity gaps, siloed government coordination, insufficient financing, and unequal resource rights. The author recommends establishing enabling bodies to support NDCs, adopting a 'seascape' approach to integrate land-sea interfaces, and scaling innovative financing like blue carbon and debt-for-nature swaps.

• There is a widespread perception that terrestrial climate issues are prioritized over marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in national policies, leading to a disconnect between high-level global discussions and local action.
• Implementation of EbA in SADC is hindered by significant capacity gaps in public institutions and community groups, specifically regarding ecological restoration techniques, pollution prevention, and the ability to retain trained staff.
• Government coordination is characterized by 'silos,' where ministries (such as fisheries, environment, and tourism) operate autonomously and fail to reconcile priorities or share information vertically and horizontally.
• Financial constraints are a primary barrier, with issues including short donor timelines that clash with slow municipal tender processes and a lack of capacity within local authorities to absorb adaptation finance.
• Inequities in land tenure and fishing rights impede the effectiveness of EbA, as commercial entities often maintain preferential access to resources over local subsistence communities.
• There are critical gaps in early warning systems and environmental monitoring, particularly regarding toxic waste contamination and the impacts of ocean acidification on the west coast of Southern Africa.
• Gender inequalities persist in coastal communities, where traditional norms restrict female leadership and decision-making power in financial and technological adaptation matters.
• Innovative financing mechanisms, such as blue carbon credits and debt-for-nature swaps, offer potential for scaling EbA, though many projects struggle with certification and timely verification of credits.

APA

THORN, J. (2023). Strengthening Marine and Coastal EbA in Climate Policies in Southern Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP-346_MarinaCoastalEbA.pdf

Chicago

THORN, JESSICA. Strengthening Marine and Coastal EbA in Climate Policies in Southern Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2023. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP-346_MarinaCoastalEbA.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=THORN |first1=JESSICA |title=Strengthening Marine and Coastal EbA in Climate Policies in Southern Africa |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2023 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP-346_MarinaCoastalEbA.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{thorn2023strengthening, author = {THORN, JESSICA}, title = {{Strengthening Marine and Coastal EbA in Climate Policies in Southern Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP-346_MarinaCoastalEbA.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }