Strengthening local government regulatory capacity for climate change adaptation in South Africa: lessons from Denmark and Kenya

Abstract

Strengthening the regulatory capacities of local government is essential for effective climate change adaptation in South Africa, since the effects of climate change are intensifying and are felt disproportionately among various communities. Given that local government functions in closer proximity to citizens than any other governmental level, by rendering service delivery and a developmental arm of government, it is evident that it is anticipated to play a significant role in the management and regulation of environmental issues like climate change. This research primarily examines how the regulatory capacity of local governments in South Africa for climate change adaptation might be improved by leveraging comparative lessons from the legislative frameworks and experiences of Denmark and Kenya. First, this thesis provides a theoretical literature review of international and regional climate adaptation frameworks to discern generic elements necessary for effective local climate change adaptation. These elements constitute the analytical basis for an assessment of local climate change adaptation initiatives in Denmark and Kenya, two countries that have made notable improvements in decentralised adaptation governance through cohesive legal frameworks, coordinated institutional structures, dedicated financial mechanisms, and participatory planning processes. Second, this thesis (by using the generic elements identified for fulfilment of local climate change adaptation as benchmarks), demonstrates that Denmark's well???structured national-local governance system, supported by mandatory municipal adaptation planning and strong technical guidance, exemplifies regulatory clarity and institutional coherence. Kenya's decentralised climate governance framework, established under the Climate Change Act (2016) and County Climate Change Funds, demonstrates how mandated local financing and participatory planning can enhance adaptive capacity. On the other hand, after an over view of South Africa's legislative framework, South Africa continues to struggle with fragmented mandates, inadequate resources, and poor alignment between policy and local v climate requirements despite having a strong constitutional basis for environmental protection. Third, based on the generic elements and the lessons learned from Denmark and Kenya, this thesis concludes with a set of recommendations to strengthen local government climate change adaptation in South Africa.