Research Articles (Future Africa)http://hdl.handle.net/2263/818962024-03-28T18:32:18Z2024-03-28T18:32:18ZSustainability of drinking water and sanitation delivery systems in rural communities of the Lepelle Nkumpi Local Municipality, South AfricaBazaanah, ProsperMothapo, Raesibe A.http://hdl.handle.net/2263/934132023-11-23T22:45:38Z2023-04-01T00:00:00ZSustainability of drinking water and sanitation delivery systems in rural communities of the Lepelle Nkumpi Local Municipality, South Africa
Bazaanah, Prosper; Mothapo, Raesibe A.
Water and sanitation are core for the growth and development of communities. Yet, South African local municipalities are often unable to sustainably deliver safe water and basic sanitation for all. Drawing on perspectives of ecological economics, this study analysed the sustainability of water and sanitation systems in rural communities of the Lepelle Nkumpi Local Municipality. Mixed research approach was used to collect the data from 657 household and institutional respondents. The study found that households used water for multi-purposes including consumptive, productive and domestic, but existing facilities are in deplorable condition. Pollution arising from agrochemicals, waste systems, mining, sewerage, and industrial effluence significantly affected water systems in the communities. Bridging demand–supply gaps require initiatives like bulk water supply and implementation of the free basic water policy in underprivileged areas. Tariffs should either be waived or adjusted for extremely poor households. Waste management initiatives, like capacity building, public education, investments, and facility upgrade, could help avert spread of waterborne infections and improve the resident’s health.
DATA AVAILABILITY : The data will be made available upon request.
2023-04-01T00:00:00ZProposed solutions to anthropogenic climate change : a systematic literature review and a new way forwardFeigin, Svetlana V.Wiebers, David O.Lueddeke, GeorgeMorand, SergeLee, KelleyKnight, AndrewBrainin, MichaelFeigin, Valery L.Whitfort, AmandaMarcum, JamesShackelford, Todd K.Skerratt, Lee F.Winkler, Andrea S.http://hdl.handle.net/2263/934052023-11-23T22:45:47Z2023-10-01T00:00:00ZProposed solutions to anthropogenic climate change : a systematic literature review and a new way forward
Feigin, Svetlana V.; Wiebers, David O.; Lueddeke, George; Morand, Serge; Lee, Kelley; Knight, Andrew; Brainin, Michael; Feigin, Valery L.; Whitfort, Amanda; Marcum, James; Shackelford, Todd K.; Skerratt, Lee F.; Winkler, Andrea S.
Humanity is now facing what may be the biggest challenge to its existence: irreversible climate change brought about by human activity. Our planet is in a state of emergency, and we only have a short window of time (7–8 years) to enact meaningful change. The goal of this systematic literature review is to summarize the peer-reviewed literature on proposed solutions to climate change in the last 20 years (2002–2022), and to propose a framework for a unified approach to solving this climate change crisis. Solutions reviewed include a transition toward use of renewable energy resources, reduced energy consumption, rethinking the global transport sector, and nature-based solutions. This review highlights one of the most important but overlooked pieces in the puzzle of solving the climate change problem – the gradual shift to a plant-based diet and global phaseout of factory (industrialized animal) farming, the most damaging and prolific form of animal agriculture. The gradual global phaseout of industrialized animal farming can be achieved by increasingly replacing animal meat and other animal products with plant-based products, ending government subsidies for animal-based meat, dairy, and eggs, and initiating taxes on such products. Failure to act will ultimately result in a scenario of irreversible climate change with widespread famine and disease, global devastation, climate refugees, and warfare. We therefore suggest an “All Life” approach, invoking the interconnectedness of all life forms on our planet. The logistics for achieving this include a global standardization of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) or similar measures and the introduction of a regulatory body for verification of such measures. These approaches will help deliver environmental and sustainability benefits for our planet far beyond an immediate reduction in global warming.
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : Data included in article/supplementary material/referenced in article.
2023-10-01T00:00:00ZTen new insights in climate science 2022Martin, Maria A.Boakye, Emmanuel A.Boyd, EmilyBroadgate, WendyBustamante, MercedesCanadell, Josep G.Carr, Edward R.Chu, Eric K.Cleugh, HelenCsevár, SzilviaDaoudy, MarwaDe Bremond, ArianeDhimal, MeghnathEbi, Kristie L.Edwards, CleaFuss, SabineGirardin, Martin P.Glavovic, BruceHebden, SophieHirota, MarinaHsu, Huang-HsiungHuq, SaleemulIngold, KarinJohannessen, Ola M.Kameyama, YasukoKumarasinghe, NilushiLangendijk, Gaby S.Lissner, TabeaLwasa, ShuaibMachalaba, CatherineMaltais, AaronMathai, Manu V.Mbow, CheikhMcNamara, Karen E.Mukherji, AditiMurray, VirginiaMysiak, JaroslavOkereke, ChukwumerijeOspina, DanielOtto, FriederikePrakash, AnjalPulhin, Juan M.Raju, EmmanuelRedman, AaronRigaud, Kanta K.Rockstrom, JohanRoy, JoyashreeSchipper, E. Lisa F.Schlosser, PeterSchulz, Karsten A.Schumacher, KimSchwarz, LuanaScown, MurraySedova, BarboraSiddiqui, Tasneem A.Singh, ChandniSioen, Giles B.Stammer, DetlefSteinert, Norman J.Suk, SunheeSutton, RowanThalheimer, LisaVan Aalst, MaartenVan der Geest, KeesZhao, Zhirong Jerryhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/933212023-11-16T22:45:10Z2022-11-01T00:00:00ZTen new insights in climate science 2022
Martin, Maria A.; Boakye, Emmanuel A.; Boyd, Emily; Broadgate, Wendy; Bustamante, Mercedes; Canadell, Josep G.; Carr, Edward R.; Chu, Eric K.; Cleugh, Helen; Csevár, Szilvia; Daoudy, Marwa; De Bremond, Ariane; Dhimal, Meghnath; Ebi, Kristie L.; Edwards, Clea; Fuss, Sabine; Girardin, Martin P.; Glavovic, Bruce; Hebden, Sophie; Hirota, Marina; Hsu, Huang-Hsiung; Huq, Saleemul; Ingold, Karin; Johannessen, Ola M.; Kameyama, Yasuko; Kumarasinghe, Nilushi; Langendijk, Gaby S.; Lissner, Tabea; Lwasa, Shuaib; Machalaba, Catherine; Maltais, Aaron; Mathai, Manu V.; Mbow, Cheikh; McNamara, Karen E.; Mukherji, Aditi; Murray, Virginia; Mysiak, Jaroslav; Okereke, Chukwumerije; Ospina, Daniel; Otto, Friederike; Prakash, Anjal; Pulhin, Juan M.; Raju, Emmanuel; Redman, Aaron; Rigaud, Kanta K.; Rockstrom, Johan; Roy, Joyashree; Schipper, E. Lisa F.; Schlosser, Peter; Schulz, Karsten A.; Schumacher, Kim; Schwarz, Luana; Scown, Murray; Sedova, Barbora; Siddiqui, Tasneem A.; Singh, Chandni; Sioen, Giles B.; Stammer, Detlef; Steinert, Norman J.; Suk, Sunhee; Sutton, Rowan; Thalheimer, Lisa; Van Aalst, Maarten; Van der Geest, Kees; Zhao, Zhirong Jerry
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY. We summarize what we assess as the
past year’s most important findings within climate change research:
limits to adaptation, vulnerability hotspots, new threats coming from
the climate–health nexus, climate (im)mobility and security, sustainable
practices for land use and finance, losses and damages, inclusive
societal climate decisions and ways to overcome structural barriers to
accelerate mitigation and limit global warming to below 2°C.
TECHNICHAL SUMMARY. We synthesize 10 topics within climate
research where there have been significant advances or emerging
scientific consensus since January 2021. The selection of these
insights was based on input from an international open call with
broad disciplinary scope. Findings concern: (1) new aspects of
soft and hard limits to adaptation; (2) the emergence of regional
vulnerability hotspots from climate impacts and human vulnerability;
(3) new threats on the climate–health horizon – some involving
plants and animals; (4) climate (im)mobility and the need for
anticipatory action; (5) security and climate; (6) sustainable land
management as a prerequisite to land-based solutions; (7) sustainable
finance practices in the private sector and the need for political
guidance; (8) the urgent planetary imperative for addressing losses
and damages; (9) inclusive societal choices for climate-resilient
development and (10) how to overcome barriers to accelerate mitigation
and limit global warming to below 2°C.
SOCIAL MEDIA SUMMARY. Science has evidence on barriers to
mitigation and how to overcome them to avoid limits to adaptation
across multiple fields.
DATA AVAILABILITY : All potential additional resources such as data, materials, protocols and software code (if not referenced in the paper or provided in the Supplementary material) can be requested via email to the corresponding author.
2022-11-01T00:00:00ZWhy care about theories? Innovative ways of theorizing in sustainability scienceSchluter, MajaCaniglia, GuidoOrach, KirillBodin, OrjanMagliocca, NicolasMeyfroidt, PatrickReyers, Belindahttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/932192023-11-09T22:50:17Z2022-02-01T00:00:00ZWhy care about theories? Innovative ways of theorizing in sustainability science
Schluter, Maja; Caniglia, Guido; Orach, Kirill; Bodin, Orjan; Magliocca, Nicolas; Meyfroidt, Patrick; Reyers, Belinda
The complex nature of sustainability problems and the aim of sustainability science to support emergent processes of transformation require rethinking how we build and make use of theories. We highlight the diversity of ways in which theories, as assemblages of different elements that can serve a variety of purposes, can emerge within inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary processes. Such emerging theories are (i) contextualized, constantly changing, and build on a plurality of knowledge from science and practice, (ii) embedded in change-making processes arising when diverse actors try to collectively solve a complex problem. We propose four ideal-typical modes of theorizing, and the notion of ‘ecologies of theories’, to explicate and further advance theorizing to meet the challenges and needs of sustainability science.
2022-02-01T00:00:00Z