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Climatic Change and Housing Issues in South Africa

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Climate Change and Sustainable Urban Development in Africa and Asia

Abstract

Climatic change is one of the most pressing global environmental challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century (Parry et al. 2007; UNDP 2007). Previously, most of the debate on climate change focused mainly on mitigation and adaptation strategies to address its causes and consequences to the environment. However, in recent years, some commentators have expanded the debate by arguing that climatic change is a development issue and that only sustainable development can effectively confront the challenge (Tomlin and Hug 2006; Parry 2009). A greater realization has emerged that climatic change tends to have a greater impact on the poor sectors of the populace, which already suffer from poor health conditions, unemployment or social exclusion. This is due to the fact they have the least capacity to manage risk and thus make long-term adaptations. This has caused a shift in the focus of the climatic change discourse from being primarily concerned with environmental issues to include poverty issues and sustainable development.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Development Studies, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, Mmabatho, South Africa

    Bornwell C. Chikulo (Professor of Development Studies)

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  1. Bornwell C. Chikulo
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Correspondence to Bornwell C. Chikulo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Singapore Institute of Planners, Singapore, Singapore

    Belinda Yuen

  2. UNCRD Africa Office, UN Girigiri, Block A 121, Nairobi, 12345, Kenya

    Asfaw Kumssa

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Chikulo, B.C. (2011). Climatic Change and Housing Issues in South Africa. In: Yuen, B., Kumssa, A. (eds) Climate Change and Sustainable Urban Development in Africa and Asia. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9867-2_8

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