important to livelihoods in rural fishing communities. Because of the high levels of poverty and low levels of service delivery and infrastructure experienced by many rural communities, they are particularly vulnerable to such disasters. Drivers of social vulnerability to climate change include: Inadequate access to basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity, and waste management Inadequate access to health care facilities Inadequate access to infrastructure such as housing, roads and communications. Infants and the old are more physiologically vulnerable to the effects of climate change on human health, and communities with a low number of economically active adults are vulnerable. Households with low income levels are less able to cope with and respond to the environmental stresses and shocks associated with climate change. Similarly, lack of access to land and insecure tenure increases social vulnerability. The scope of this plan embraces human settlements whichlocated outside of the urban edge, as defined in spatial development plans. This may include Urban Fringe: settlements on the periphery of metropolitan areas and towns, which may include informal settlements, low cost housing and high-income low density settlements. Dense Rural Settlements: consisting of “betterment settlements” as a legacy of apartheid planning in the former homelands and informal settlements. Rural villages: these can be unplanned traditional settlements, or planned settlements that service farms. Dispersed and scattered settlements: these consist of unplanned traditional homesteads and settlements in commercial farming areas. Within each of these typologies, and even within particular rural communities, there is a large degree of diversity in settlement patterns, socio-economic status, and access to services of households.South Africa has experienced a long-term and ongoing trend of urbanisation. Currently almost 39 percent of the population resides in the rural areas, and on current trends this will decrease to 20 percent by the year 2050. For many in the rural areas, particularly the densely populated former homelands, life is beset with struggles around access to basic necessities such as potable water, sanitation, fuel for cooking and high levels of poverty and food insecurity. One in two rural households is dependent on social grants, compared with one in five houses in urban centres. The Climate Change Adaptation Sector Plan for Rural Human Settlements is founded on the following guiding principles, which will be used to inform adaptation responses in the sector: Climate change related vulnerability must be understood in the local context – climate change risks and vulnerabilities are location specific.
important to livelihoods in rural fishing communities. Because of the high levels of poverty and low levels of service delivery and infrastructure experienced by many rural communities, they are particularly vulnerable to such disasters. Drivers of social vulnerability to climate change include: Inadequate access to basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity, and waste management Inadequate access to health care facilities Inadequate access to infrastructure such as housing, roads and communications. Infants and the old are more physiologically vulnerable to the effects of climate change on human health, and communities with a low number of economically active adults are vulnerable. Households with low income levels are less able to cope with and respond to the environmental stresses and shocks associated with climate change. Similarly, lack of access to land and insecure tenure increases social vulnerability. The scope of this plan embraces human settlements whichlocated outside of the urban edge, as defined in spatial development plans. This may include Urban Fringe: settlements on the periphery of metropolitan areas and towns, which may include informal settlements, low cost housing and high-income low density settlements. Dense Rural Settlements: consisting of “betterment settlements” as a legacy of apartheid planning in the former homelands and informal settlements. Rural villages: these can be unplanned traditional settlements, or planned settlements that service farms. Dispersed and scattered settlements: these consist of unplanned traditional homesteads and settlements in commercial farming areas. Within each of these typologies, and even within particular rural communities, there is a large degree of diversity in settlement patterns, socio-economic status, and access to services of households.South Africa has experienced a long-term and ongoing trend of urbanisation. Currently almost 39 percent of the population resides in the rural areas, and on current trends this will decrease to 20 percent by the year 2050. For many in the rural areas, particularly the densely populated former homelands, life is beset with struggles around access to basic necessities such as potable water, sanitation, fuel for cooking and high levels of poverty and food insecurity. One in two rural households is dependent on social grants, compared with one in five houses in urban centres. The Climate Change Adaptation Sector Plan for Rural Human Settlements is founded on the following guiding principles, which will be used to inform adaptation responses in the sector: Climate change related vulnerability must be understood in the local context – climate change risks and vulnerabilities are location specific.