Climate change in south Durban, South Africa Copyright © 2010 CCAA Project

Who is the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance? A non-governmental coalition of 16 community and environmental organisations concerned with environmental justice and sustainable development in south Durban and eThekwini (the broader Durban municipal area) Launched in 1995 to unite members in a common struggle for a healthy living environment and environmentally sustainable and socially just development in south Durban South Durban is home to approximately half a million people, and is also the location of South Africa’s largest chemical industry cluster including two major oil refineries (Engen and Sapref) and two big paper mills (Mondi and Sappi Saicorr) as well as the transport infrastructure associated with Africa’s largest port

Location of poor and mostly black people close to polluting industries. The history of racially-motivated planning has resulted in the difficult circumstances in which south Durban communities continue to find themselves: choking on noxious fumes, suffering pollution-related illness, and rapidly deteriorating neighbourhoods In 2002/2206 a health study was carried out by the eThekwini Municipality and University of Michigan – results had shown that 52% of the children from Settlers Primary School (found in close proximity to Engen refinery) had asthma These stats had made the Guinness Book of records for the highest percentage of affected children

Overview of climate change project in south Durban Climate change book launch – February 2009 Climate change and poverty hearing – August 2009 Durban’s build up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP 15 7 th Dec 09 – Video screening (The story of stuff and carbon trading) 9 th Dec 09 – Picket outside Sapref, Engen and Mondi refineries 12 th Dec 09 – Global day of action Youth Rally 12 th Dec 09 – Candlelight vigil outside Engen refinery 14 th Dec 09 – Press briefing – The World Bank and Eskom: Banking on climate destruction Attending COP 15 in Copenhagen – December 2009 Copenhagen review workshop – February 2010

Kids painted banners and t-shirts with messages to President Jacob Zuma Protest outside Mondi paper mill Global day of action, Youth Rally

Scientific evidence: increases in temperature increased rainfall variability extreme weather events (e.g. flooding and drought) CO 2, N 2 O, CH 4 exceed values over the past years 5% chance this is natural variability Climate change in south Durban

What can we expect? Rising temperatures Water shortages and extreme weather events Sea level rise Ocean currents, ocean temperatures, and marine biodiversity Terrestrial biodiversity Illness and disease Air pollution Social problems

A hint of things to come?

March 2007

November 2008

Stories from South Durban Clarabelle Mthembu has serious asthma Patience Green has a son and grandson with chronic breathing problems

Siga Govender (farmer) Siga Govender (farmer) Farmed near Durban Airport since 1976 March 2007, March & June 2008 Faced financial ruin Water resource is compromised. In May 2010, water from the canal had dried up because of warmer conditions experienced leading to farmers having to dig up bore holes. Usually the bore hole water resource is used in September. Water scarcity leads to farmers planting crops that require less water like parsley, thyme, spinach and coriander

Flooding had lead to loss of newly planted seedlings Community empowerment and education Farmers are still farming on land

Essop Mohammed (fisherman) Essop Mohammed (fisherman) Fishing off the harbour since 1860 Move to different areas along the harbour due to scarcity of species Time of day has also been moved, from mornings to the evenings Strong winds influence movement of the fish Fishermen’s involvement with government Draft policy for the development of viable (resilient) small scale fisheries sector in SA Interim relief measure granted in the Cape and parts of KZN

Fishermen’s involvement with the city Access to fishing piers In 2004 defiance of the link road campaign Formed the KZN Subsistence Fisheries Forum

Pyramid of power and responsibility: climate change

Climate change is a global problem, yet each one of us has the power to make a difference