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Why Southern Africa Needs More than an Adaptation Strategy to Build Climate Resilient Floodplains: A Call for Transformative Water Security on the Kafue Flats of Zambia

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Climate Resilient Water Resources Management

Abstract

This chapter seeks to illustrate why efforts to build climate resilient floodplains in Southern Africa require long-term transformative water security interventions. The authors argue that a transformative water security approach that is generative of change is needed to deal with the many adaptation challenges experienced by floodplain systems. They call for transformative water security that emphasises continuous experimentation and learning in an ongoing process of defining and balancing thresholds. This is particularly important given that most Southern African societies undeniably need to develop capacities to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The authors contend that societal efforts need to be directed towards building transformative capacities. This, however, will require a shift towards a functional balance between adaptation and transformation.

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Correspondence to Bimo Nkhata .

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Nkhata, B., Breen, C., Chomba, M. (2018). Why Southern Africa Needs More than an Adaptation Strategy to Build Climate Resilient Floodplains: A Call for Transformative Water Security on the Kafue Flats of Zambia. In: Brears, R. (eds) Climate Resilient Water Resources Management. Palgrave Studies in Climate Resilient Societies. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78896-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78896-8_6

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Cham

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