Plan for South African water sector set out at COP-17

1 December 2011

A climate change strategy for South Africa's water sector was set out at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP-17) yesterday (November 30th).

The South African Development Community (Sadc), which helps combat droughts and improve water resource management, launched its strategy at the event in Durban with infrastructure development a key aspect of the plans, reports Business Day.

Sadc's regional integration executive secretary Joao Caholo explained that a lack of infrastructure to cope with harmful climate change undermines the region's ability to deal with potential disasters.

As part of a 20-year plan to bolster water resources management, the regional strategy will see infrastructure adapted to deal with the variations in supply caused by climate change.

South Africa's water and environmental affairs minister Edna Molwea said that she was "delighted that our strategy recognises that its focal point is [structural] adaptation".

Switzerland's Agency for Development and Cooperation recently pledged $20 million (£12.8 million) to the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Trust Fund, a project aimed at improving water access and water quality in rural Africa.

Category: Water