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NEWS: Coastal wetlands are unable to adapt to the rate of sea-level rise and are constrained by infrastructure

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Wetlands, precious ecosystems that shield coastlines, safeguard drinking water from saltwater contamination, and nourish diverse wildlife, face a dire threat from the accelerating pace of sea-level rise, driven by global warming. Wetlands have historically adapted to rising sea levels by expanding upward and inland. However, predictions indicate that the waterline will soon shift far too rapidly for wetlands to keep pace. Consequently, future decades may witness the tragic loss of these vital wetland ecosystems. Wetlands along coastlines have historically played valuable roles for people and wildlife, but are now facing the threat of sea-level rise. As temperatures rise, sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, and wetlands are unable to keep pace by building upward and migrating inland. This is due to human-induced climate change and the burning of fossil fuels, which has warmed the oceans and melted glaciers. Sea levels are now rising at about 10 millimeters per year, and are
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OPINION: My perspective on the infrastructure fund

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Nancy Ronoh shares her hardhatOPINION on the infrastructure fund as a vehicle set up by the South African government to facilitate investments on infrastructure projects


As a construction industry professional, I am extremely concerned with the future of the industry. An article on the “Tech Central” platform describes the fund as a “vehicle for the facilitation of successful projects, as opposed to a traditional government stimulus.” The fund aims to bring positive change to the South African economy and its people, “The Infrastructure Fund will direct financing towards projects that have a positive social impact, including the construction of new transport links and student accommodation, and improving access to water and the Internet”.

So far, the infrastructure fund sounds like the answer to the collective construction industry players. The fund will make available a R100 billion-rand worth of project funds over the next 10 years. The auxiliary benefits of the various projects such as job creation, improved public facilities and improved buying power for the communities where the projects will take place will inevitably result in a recovered economy.

ALSO READ: Can private sector help with South Africa's infrastructure? - Marcus Dlamini

The professionals involved in the planning and management of the fund have already identified that choosing appropriate projects to fund will be the main challenge. According to a publication by Mckinsey and Company “gains from infrastructure are fully realized however only when projects generate tangible public benefits” (Bielenberg et al, 2020). The framework designed by Mckinsey and Company can be a useful tool for the country to ensure the projects funded through the infrastructure fund produce the intended benefits. The following are the checks suggested for deciding on feasible beneficial projects:
  • Develop projects with tangible quantifiable benefits
  • Improve the coordination of infrastructure investment to account for network effects
  • Engage and align community stakeholders to promote inclusive economic and social benefits
  • Unlock long term capital
When choosing the type of infrastructure projects that need to be funded the government should also consider the operation costs. An assessment of the long-term fiscal implications of the facility is necessary in calculating the project benefit on an economic level.

Public looting and tender related corruption are two of the factors that threaten to derail the success of the fund. An article by the Mail & Guardian reports that the aim is for the funding and allocation process to be “transparent, fair and competitive”. I, like so many others, look forward to seeing this vision realized.

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