Title:
Retrofitting unused spaces can help South African cities adapt to climate change
Authors:
Jan Hugo, Lecturer in Sustainable and Climate Responsive Architecture, University of Pretoria
Chrisna du Plessis, Associate Professor and Head of Department, Architecture, University of Pretoria
Published:
The Conversation, 4 January 2021
From the article:
In southern Africa, climate change is seen mostly in the form of higher temperatures, more heatwaves and less rainfall.
South Africa’s climate change adaptation policies and National Spatial Development Framework tend to address climate change adaptation on a macro-scale. They focus on large infrastructural, agrarian and ecosystem-based initiatives. Limited attention is given to cities, especially the way cities can adapt at the level of local neighbourhoods.