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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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NEWS: South Africa’s cities can’t cope with the influx of migrants: minister

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South Africa plans to ‘upgrade’ human settlements across the country to accommodate an expected influx of migrants to the country’s urban areas, says Human Settlements minister Mmamoloko Kubayi.


In a virtual address on Wednesday (3 November), Kubayi said South Africa is the most industrialised economy in the African continent and naturally attracts migrants from the surrounding countries in large numbers.

Kubayi said these migrants enter the country primarily for economic opportunities and gravitate towards cities, where human settlements infrastructure is already under pressure because they are severely inadequate for accommodating huge populations.


“Currently, of the one billion global slum dwellers, 238 million are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Africa’s population is projected to double between now and 2050, and urban areas will absorb two-thirds of this growth. It is within this context that South Africa has formulated its national urban policies, urban legislation and regulations, urban planning and design,” she said.

Kubayi said that the government now plans to ‘upgrade’ the country’s human settlements to accommodate this influx of migrants better and improve living conditions in urban areas.

“We acknowledge, however, that government cannot yet keep pace with the demand, and we are ever more aware that we need to create more partnerships to respond to the needs of nearly two million households living in informal settlements across South Africa,” she said.

“It is a national priority to respond systematically to the increasing rate of urbanisation. Thus the upgrading of 2,200 informal settlements is a central objective of our urban management strategy.”

With the participation of the private sector, civil society, academia and other stakeholders, approximately five million housing opportunities have been created with government support in South Africa since 1994, said Kubayi

“We have also put other enabling policies that allow more housing options and choices to be continually developed to meet the needs of a rapidly urbanising country.”

HAVE YOUR SAY: Government is not keeping pace with the housing demand  what should be done to incentives the private sector to do more?

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