Municipalities must get specific funding to fight the impacts of climate change

Climate change, temperate changes, weather changes – whatever terminology one might choose – are having a profound effect on South African towns and cities. Despite this, municipalities are struggling to deal with these changes, be it through mitigation, adaptation or response. The smaller or poorer the municipality, the more profound the effects tend to be.

At present, the municipal funding framework does not cater for climate change adaptation, mitigation or response. This is true for both grant funding and equitable share allocation. 

While the national and provincial governments incorporate impressive rhetoric into their policies and speeches, local municipalities – particularly those reliant on grants – are left to clean up after severe weather events and manage the subsequent social and economic impacts. 

It is time for national and provincial governments to seriously consider making funding available for meaningful climate change interventions and responses at the local government level. This could take the form of specific grants, changes to the equitable share formula, or both.

The disconnect between national policies and local realities is stark. 

No actionable support

The national and provincial governments often set ambitious targets and articulate comprehensive strategies for tackling climate change. However, these high-level commitments rarely translate into actionable support for local governments. Instead, local municipalities are expected to manage the fallout from severe weather events with inadequate resources, leaving them vulnerable and underprepared.

In small, grant-dependent municipalities, the situation is even more dire. 

These areas often lack the financial and technical capacity to implement effective climate change measures. They are left to grapple with the immediate aftermath of extreme weather, such as floods and droughts, without the means to invest in long-term resilience strategies. This reactive approach not only exacerbates the damage caused by these events but also hampers the ability of these communities to recover and thrive. 

The current municipal funding framework does not account for the unique challenges posed by climate change. 

Equitable share

The equitable share allocation, designed to ensure that all municipalities receive a fair portion of national revenue, does not include provisions for climate change adaptation or mitigation.

Similarly, existing grant programmes do not prioritise funding for climate resilience projects. 

This oversight leaves municipalities without the necessary resources to implement proactive measures, forcing them into a cycle of perpetual crisis management. 

The national and provincial governments must bridge this gap by making targeted funding available for local climate change interventions. 

Solutions

One potential solution is the introduction of specific grants dedicated to climate change adaptation and mitigation. These grants could provide municipalities with the financial support needed to invest in infrastructure upgrades, early warning systems, and community education programmes. 

By earmarking funds specifically for climate resilience, governments can ensure that local authorities have the means to take proactive measures rather than merely reacting to disasters.

Another approach is to revise the equitable share formula to include climate change considerations. This would involve allocating additional resources to municipalities that are particularly vulnerable to climate impacts, enabling them to invest in necessary resilience measures. 

By factoring climate risk into the equitable share formula, governments can provide a more equitable distribution of resources that reflects the unique challenges faced by different communities. 

Both of these approaches require a fundamental shift in how climate change is integrated into municipal funding frameworks. They also necessitate a commitment from national and provincial governments to prioritise climate resilience at the local level. This means not only providing financial support but also offering technical assistance and capacity-building programmes to help municipalities develop and implement effective climate strategies.

High stakes 

The stakes are high. Without adequate funding and support, local municipalities will continue to struggle with the impacts of climate change, with devastating consequences for communities across South Africa. 

Severe weather events will become more frequent and more intense, exacerbating existing social and economic inequalities. 

Vulnerable populations, including the poor and marginalised, will bear the brunt of these impacts, further entrenching cycles of poverty and hardship. 

To rectify this, national and provincial governments must prioritise the allocation of resources for climate resilience at the local level. DM