Perspectives on integrated water resource management and its relevance in understanding the water-energy-climate change nexus in South Africa

It is increasingly acknowledged that the water-energy-climate change (WECC) nexus is one of the synergies that pose a significant risk to achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs), specifically numbers six, seven and thirteen. There are suggestions that climate change outcomes such as increased temperature and drought episodes have implications for water availability, which in turn affects energy production in countries dependent on hydropower, pump-storage or coal-generated electricity, including South Africa. This development therefore calls for improved understanding of how to effectively manage the challenges that arise from this nexus, to mitigate the impacts it may have on achieving the associated SDGs. This study, which is based on an in-depth appraisal of existing developments, assessed the potential of the integrated water resource management framework in understanding the WECC nexus and its implications for South Africa’s sustainable development endeavours, particularly in the context of water resource management and utilisation. The study revealed South Africa’s lack of integrated, effective, and efficient institutions and policy framework to comprehensively manage the challenges emanating from this nexus. It identified an urgent need to develop systems and processes through which South Africa can handle the challenges as well as capture the benefits that may be obtained from this nexus

Motivation and Marginalisation of Urban Agriculture in Lusaka,Zambia

This doctoral thesis aimed at identifying factors accounting for the motivation of urban residents in engaging in urban agriculture (VA) on the one hand, and its exclusion from urban development and planning policy in Lusaka on the other. It is based on fieldwork that was carried out in three different locations of the city, namely; Chilenje, Garden Compound, and Seven Miles. The findings suggest that the motivation for UA in Lusaka is embedded in its contribution to urban household food security and income generation. Despite this contribution, field-based investigations revealed that VA is not officially recognised and integrated into planning policy, in spite of some policy and political statements supporting its practice. While a number of factors, such as lack of financial resources and lack of urban space etc, were presented as some of the major constraints hampering the integration of UA into planning policy by the respondents, field survey data and other policy documents revealed that a weak institutional set up and lack of political-will are among several factors responsible for the neglect ofUA in urban planning policy. With the right political-will and institutional set-up, several factors necessary for the pursuit ofVA could be established. Such an approach would not only facilitate the setting up of an infrastructure that could support VA, but would also result into a detailed city-wide inventory of the practice. The availability of reliable data would then provide a useful basis for discussions between city authorities and farmers and this would spearhead the integration of VA into planning policy. With a greater level ofmutual understanding between different actors, the present contradictory official responses might be replaced with a more positive, sensitive and nuanced approach to urban agriculture, where its value to individuals, households and the city as a whole is more fully appreciated. But before this can happen, it is important that everyone is fully aware of the significance of VA for food security, employment, income and ecological benefits, at a time when the city is facing economic constraints and post-adjustment pressures.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

The Contribution of Pyrolysis of Water Hyacinth to South Africa’s Low-carbon and Climate Resilient Economy Transition: A Mini Review

South Africa is a carbon-intensive country, with coal dominating the indigenous energy resource base; however, targets have been set to reduce the national carbon emissions. The transition from coal to cleaner sources of energy generation can be encouraged by the administration of new technologies. Hence, the study aims to review research progress on the pyrolysis of water hyacinth as a tool for the smooth transition to low carbon and climate-resilient economy. Water hyacinth is suitable for energy recovery due to its high carbon content and heating value. The outcome shows that pyrolytic products such as liquid, char and non-condensable gas fractions are beneficial. This paper contributes to policy and research deliberations on promoting and adopting pyrolysis technology in addressing South Africa’s energy crisis and water hyacinth invasion

Methodological Approaches to Optimising Anaerobic Digestion of Water Hyacinth for Energy Efficiency in South Africa

Anaerobic digestion has been identified as a feasible fragment of a bioeconomy, yet numerous factors hinder the adoption of the technology in South Africa. Apart from its energy recovery, other nonmarket advantages support the technology. Though it may be challenging to have a price tag, they provide clear added worth for such investments. With a growing energy demand and global energy transitions, there is a need to sustainably commercialise the biogas industry in South Africa. Most studies are at laboratory scale and under specific conditions, which invariably create gaps in using their data for commercialising the biogas technology. The key to recognising these gaps depends on knowing the crucial technical phases that have the utmost outcome on the economics of biogas production. This study is a meta-analysis of the optimisation of anaerobic digestion through methodological approaches aimed at enhancing the production of biogas. This review, therefore, argues that regulating the fundamental operational parameters, understanding the microbial community’s interactions, and modelling the anaerobic processes are vital indicators for improving the process stability and methane yield for the commercialisation of the technology. It further argues that South Africa can exploit water hyacinth as a substrate for a self-sufficient biogas production system in a bid to mitigate the invasive alien plants

Theorising Indigenous Farmers’ Utilisation of Climate Services: Lessons from the Oil-Rich Niger Delta

In the wake of a rapidly changing climate, climate services have enabled farmers in developing countries to make informed decisions, necessary for efficient food production. Climate services denote the timely production, translation, delivery and use of climate information to enhance decision-making. However, studies have failed to analyse the extent to which Indigenous farmers residing and producing their food in an environment degraded by multinational corporations (MNCs) utilise climate services. This study addresses this gap by analysing Indigenous farmers’ utilisation of climate services in Igbide, Olomoro and Uzere communities, in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were used to obtain primary data. Findings suggest that although the activities of Shell British petroleum, a MNC, have compromised food production, other factors have fuelled farmers’ unwillingness to utilise climate services. These include their inability to access assets that can significantly scale up food production and lack of weather stations close to their communities needed to generate downscaled forecasts, amongst others. This paper argues that failure to address these issues may stifle the chances of actualising the first and second sustainable development goals (no poverty and zero hunger) by 2030 in the aforementioned communities