Ecosystem-based adaptation in South African coastal cities: challenges and opportunities

The document examines the implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in South African coastal cities, highlighting the need for integrated governance, cross-sectoral partnerships, and innovative financing to move beyond traditional 'grey' infrastructure solutions.

• South African coastal cities, particularly Cape Town and Durban, face significant climate risks including flooding, rising sea levels, seawater intrusion, and coastal storm surges, which threaten urban economies and the livelihoods of populations living in poverty or informal housing.
• Effective EbA governance at the local level is hindered by a lack of coastal management lines (CMLs), which prevents integrated management of coastal areas and the ability to govern developments encroaching on ecosystems.
• Institutional silos and a lack of clarity regarding jurisdictions between national, provincial, and municipal governments impede the coordination required for successful EbA implementation.
• EbA projects are frequently sidelined due to competing political and strategic priorities and limited budgets; the document suggests appointing municipal 'champions' to advocate for EbA and bridge knowledge gaps.
• Community support for EbA is often lacking due to ineffective engagement and a failure to communicate the socio-economic benefits of these interventions in simple language.
• Public finance for climate adaptation and EbA is insufficient, necessitating the exploration of non-traditional funding sources such as payments for ecosystem services (PES), insurance industry partnerships, and community contributions.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2019). Ecosystem-based adaptation in South African coastal cities: challenges and opportunities. https://saiia.org.za/research/ecosystem-based-adaptation-in-south-african-coastal-cities-challenges-and-opportunities/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Ecosystem-based adaptation in South African coastal cities: challenges and opportunities. 2019. https://saiia.org.za/research/ecosystem-based-adaptation-in-south-african-coastal-cities-challenges-and-opportunities/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Ecosystem-based adaptation in South African coastal cities: challenges and opportunities |date=19 June 2019 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/ecosystem-based-adaptation-in-south-african-coastal-cities-challenges-and-opportunities/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2019ecosystembased, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Ecosystem-based adaptation in South African coastal cities: challenges and opportunities}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2019}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/ecosystem-based-adaptation-in-south-african-coastal-cities-challenges-and-opportunities/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }