Cooperative Governance Minister Thembi Nkadimeng has touted resilient infrastructure one of the primary goals of sustainable urban development. The Minister says as cities grow, so must sustainability goals to keep pace. She’s been speaking at the BRICS Urbanisation forum in Durban.
South African cities are already feeling the effects of infrastructure that is either too old, or has not been designed to withstand the knock-on effects of climate change.
Old infrastructure needs to be replaced and maintained in order to avoid another incident like the recent explosion that destroyed a significant portion of Downtown Johannesburg.
Nkadimeng says policy makers must ensure increasingly aggressive urban development is kept in check. As the spectre of climate change becomes an ever more immediate threat, Cogta has urged BRICS leaders to keep this in mind.
Failure to implement adequate infrastructure leaves the entire country vulnerable to the effects of climate change related disasters, like the recent floods that devastated KZN this year.
Attention to a stable, well maintained infrastructure will also minimise the amount of money being spent on repairs and rescue efforts.
KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has committed more than 2 billion rand to relief efforts following the recent floods in the province.
Other goals include adequate water management, refuse systems, carbon emissions and heat control.
She made mention of the sustainability efforts undertaken by all the BRICS countries.
In China, the concept of “sponge cities” has been implemented in Shanghai and Wuhan, integrating green infrastructure to absorb and manage stormwater, reducing the risk of flooding.
Brazil has been focusing on Favela upgrades in cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, improving infrastructure and social services in informal settlements to enhance resilience.
Russia has embraced green building practices, while also implementing measures to mitigate urban heat islands in cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.
India, on the other hand, has prioritized climate-resilient housing and urban greening initiatives in various cities.
Lastly, South Africa has been upgrading informal settlements and integrating renewable energy sources in its urban development plans.
The Forum will hear from Nkadimeng’s BRICS counterparts on Thursday as the conference enters its second day.
