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This document is a draft written reply from the South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs to a National Assembly question (No. 1578) posed by Mr J H van der Merwe (IFP) regarding water shortages in the Dukuduku and St Lucia areas of KwaZulu-Natal.

This report provides a risk and vulnerability assessment of water resources in the Limpopo Water Management Area (WMA) of South Africa. It analyzes current water resource stresses, observed and projected climate trends, and the resulting vulnerabilities to ensure sustainable water management.

This Climate Resilience Assessment (CRA), conducted by Environmental Resources Management Southern Africa Pty (Ltd) in January 2017, evaluates climate-related risks for the proposed 1,200 MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station in Lephalale, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The report identifies key vulnerabilities related to increasing temperatures, water scarcity, and extreme weather events, proposing adaptation measures to enhance the project's long-term resilience.

The document outlines the severe climate risks facing Southern Africa, noting that warming in the region's interior is occurring at approximately twice the global average rate. It projects reductions in agricultural production and freshwater availability, an increase in the frequency and intensity of heat waves and severe storms, and a higher risk of long-duration droughts. The text highlights that these risks are significantly exacerbated in 'low mitigation futures' where global warming exceeds 3 °C, compared to scenarios limiting warming to 1.5 °C or 2 °C. Specific vulnerabilities include food insecurity, which affected 6.5 million South Africans in 2019, and the threat of extinction for thousands of species.

The Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality's Spatial Development Framework (SDF) 2020 provides a long-term spatial vision to transform the region's apartheid-era layout into a sustainable, integrated environment. The plan identifies a nodal hierarchy with Volksrust and Vukuzakhe as primary nodes, and Amersfoort, Perdekop, and Wakkerstroom as secondary nodes, with Daggakraal as a rural node. Key strategies focus on densification to prevent urban sprawl, the protection of high-potential agricultural land, and the development of tourism, particularly in the Wakkerstroom wetland area. The framework also addresses critical infrastructure backlogs, projecting a need for 10,234 additional housing units by 2040 and significant increases in water and electricity demand. Environmental management is central, with specific guidelines to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change through 'green infrastructure' and eco-friendly building materials.

Human-caused warming increases atmospheric thirst, leading to higher evaporation and transpiration, which worsens droughts globally and specifically in the western U.S. In the southwestern U.S., the 2000-2021 megadrought was the most severe in 1,200 years, with over 40% of its severity attributed to climate change. The western U.S. faces increasing risks of hydrological drought from declining snowpack and compound events involving heat, drought, and wildfires, which caused over $38 billion in damages during 2020-2021.

A 2013 survey of 800 Californians reveals high levels of belief in global warming (79%) and its human cause (58%), with significant concern for its impact on the state's wildfires, heat waves, and droughts. While there is strong support for clean energy and government action, many residents remain uncertain about humanity's collective ability to successfully reduce global warming.

The report finds that 70% of Coloradans believe global warming is happening, though only 48% attribute it primarily to human activities. While 59% are worried about global warming and 73% consider it personally important, there is significant uncertainty regarding scientific consensus, with 50% believing there is "a lot of disagreement among scientists". Residents have observed increased severity in wildfires (75%) and droughts (72%) within the state. There is broad support for clean energy, including tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels (79%) and renewable energy mandates for utilities (67%). Most respondents (69%) believe the U.S. should reduce greenhouse gas emissions regardless of other countries' actions. Individual engagement varies, with 51% rewarding climate-friendly companies through purchases and 39% punishing opposing companies by boycotting them.

The report finds that while a majority of Ohioans believe global warming is happening and support clean energy transitions, there is significant uncertainty regarding scientific consensus and the likelihood of successful collective action. A large portion of the population perceives increased flooding and heat waves in the state and believes that corporations, citizens, and government officials should all do more to address the issue.

The report finds that while 70% of Texans believe global warming is happening, there is significant uncertainty regarding its causes and the level of scientific consensus. A majority of Texans support clean energy transitions and believe the U.S. should reduce emissions regardless of other countries' actions, though they often view global warming as a greater threat to others than to themselves personally.

The report finds that while 70% of Columbus residents believe global warming is happening and many are worried about it, there is significant uncertainty regarding scientific consensus and personal experience with its effects. A majority support clean energy transitions and believe the U.S. should reduce emissions regardless of other countries' actions, though they remain skeptical about humanity's collective will to successfully reduce global warming.

A 2013 survey of 700 San Francisco adults reveals high levels of belief in human-caused global warming (67%) and significant concern for its impacts. While residents expect severe future effects, including the potential abandonment of parts of the city due to sea level rise (66%), they are uncertain if humanity will successfully reduce warming. There is strong support for clean energy transitions and a preference for the U.S. to reduce emissions regardless of other countries' actions.

A survey of 10,660 UK residents reveals high levels of climate change awareness, with 86% believing it is happening and 75% attributing it to human activity. While 80% of respondents express worry about climate change and 82% support renewable energy, personal risk perception is lower than concern for future generations. The report also details local environmental experiences, noting that 68% of respondents experienced at least one environmental problem in the past year, most notably severe storms and flooding.

The document provides data tables tracking U.S. public worry about extreme heat and other environmental threats from March 2018 to April 2023. It shows a general increase in the percentage of people who are 'very' or 'moderately' worried about extreme heat, peaking at 49% in December 2022.

The report provides a comprehensive list of public laws from 2017 to 2022 that address climate adaptation, focusing heavily on national security, disaster relief, and infrastructure resilience. Key legislative trends include the integration of climate risk into Department of Defense (DoD) planning, the expansion of pre-disaster mitigation funding through the Disaster Recovery Reform Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and targeted conservation efforts for forests, wetlands, and the Arctic. The document details specific mandates for flood mapping, sea-level rise projections for military installations, and the creation of specialized funds for community resilience and drought management.

The document discusses how shifting rainfall patterns and rising carbon dioxide levels are increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, leading to significant economic losses and threats to global food security. It attributes 90 percent of global warming to human activity and advocates for the deployment of emissions-reduction technologies and climate adaptation measures to minimize future risks.

The RE-ACT project aims to protect 40,000 small and medium-sized farmers in Guyana's coastal regions (Regions 2-6) from climate-induced floods, droughts, and saltwater intrusion. The initiative focuses on two main components: the transfer of climate-resilient crop and pasture varieties and the strengthening of institutional and community-level water management. With a total indicative cost of USD 55.72 million, the project will implement Farmer Field Schools (FFS) to train farmers in adaptive management and establish a more coordinated national water governance framework, including the proposed creation of a National Water Council.

The document argues that President Donald Trump's 2018 executive order to increase logging by 31 percent to prevent forest fires is misleading and dangerous. It asserts that large-scale industrial timber harvesting is associated with worse fires in some regions and that the primary drivers of worsening fires are climate change, excessive drought, high winds, and heat. The text claims the policy serves to expand the logging industry rather than address the environmental causes of wildfires.

The document details the process and outcomes of the City of Cape Town's initial attempt to analyze its 10-year capital portfolio for climate resilience. It identifies eight key lessons, emphasizing the need for consolidated databases, a focus on climate-related shocks, and the development of project typologies. The analysis revealed significant under-tagging of resilience projects by project managers, particularly in the Human Settlements directorate, and highlights the importance of secondary resilience benefits from primary mandates. The report concludes with a roadmap to mature the resilience assessment process by 2025.

The V&A Waterfront reduced its annual water consumption from 1,370,084 kℓ in 2010 to 479,018 kℓ by 2020, representing a 65% decrease. This was achieved through a phased 'Water Resilience Journey' that prioritised low-cost interventions—such as awareness campaigns and water-efficient fittings—before moving to complex systems like greywater reuse and seawater cooling. Total investments of approximately R7 million in water-saving measures resulted in estimated cost savings of R40 million. The property also utilised 'green leases' to mandate tenant adherence to sustainability principles, with some tenants reducing consumption by 25% to 60%.