Story by Nozwelo Hadebe

Climate Yes South Africa representatives recently joined a vital urban climate resilience workshop hosted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and GIZ. As a recognized climate hotspot, South Africa faces severe environmental vulnerabilities compounded by a critical shortfall in climate financing. Speakers from the National Treasury and the World Bank emphasized that overstretched municipal budgets are severely stalling local adaptation initiatives.

To bridge this gap, delegates outlined core strategies focusing on active policy implementation, “doing more with less,” and integrating climate budgeting into municipal frameworks. Workshop discussions strongly highlighted the value of green infrastructure, cross-sector partnerships, and authentic community engagement—praising models used by eThekwini and Mbombela, while stressing the need for better local capacity.

Reflecting on the session, Climate Yes attendees noted that the success of the newly introduced Climate Change Act hinges entirely on execution rather than endless policy revisions. Moving forward, the delegation recommended aligning adaptation targets directly with municipal development plans and balancing immediate adaptation with long-term mitigation to address root climate drivers. Ultimately, achieving urban resilience requires sustained, transparent collaboration between government, NGOs, and local communities.