Botswana climate change policy & strategy and action plan
development process
Thematic working group background paper 8
November 2013
Infrastructure, settlements and Industry
Infrastructure: In this paper, infrastructures are considered as the physical facilities that support our
society such as buildings, roads, dams, water pipes, and electricity transmission, and sewerage and
drainage systems. The risks and impacts of climate change on infrastructure, and possible adaptation
measures are discussed in this paper.
Settlements: Settlement refers to human housing and their community infrastructures in urban and rural
areas, where population masses are concentrated. Most of rural settlements are at risk of climate change
impacts due to poor planning and development. The risks and impacts of climate change on settlements,
and possible adaptation measures are discussed in this paper.
Industry: Three types of industries, namely; Mining, Manufacturing and Construction are discussed in the
context of climate change risks, impacts and possible adaptation measures. Industries, especially the
mining sector does contribute significantly to the country’s GDP and it is the most important sector in
sustaining the country’s economy.
The population of Botswana is young: about
and cities and infrastructure. An increase in
43% of the people are less than 15 years of age
disasters and humanitarian crises will lead to
(1991 data). In the 1980’s population growth
immense pressure on the resources of donor
was estimated to be 3.5%, but has been
countries, including capacities for emergency
recently revised to 2.5% (National Development
relief operations1
Plan
8).
The
population
is
becoming
increasingly urbanized. Currently, 52% of the
people live in urban settlements, and the
annual rate of urbanization is 8%.
Infrastructure
priorities
is
of
one
change already contributes to inside--country
migration. With more crop failure associated
with recurrence of droughts, more and more
key
Botswana
The impact of global warming and climate
development
identified
for
diversifying the economy, creating employment
and reducing poverty. The Government of
Botswana also intends to recover its cost (SNC
p24).
people, especially the subsistence farmers
abandon their land and migrate into towns and
cities to seek alternative income generating
opportunities. Climate change is expected to
exacerbate
 With
 Under
industry (37%). This reflects on the important
spells
and
climate
north, which are flood-prone, houses, roads,
on
operational
Impacts
of
Infrastructure,
floods.
settlements
Relying solely on traditional methods assumes
that sufficient time and information will be
irreversible
the
climate
onset
impacts
of
large
to
or
permit
managers to respond appropriately;
Climate change is likely to produce – at some
Predicted
e.g.
air
climate
impacts
change
industry
of
climate
on
and
change
in
Botswana are likely to affect infrastructure
including
settlements,
buildings,
roads,
railways, dams, water pipes, sewerage, urban
drainage systems, electricity transmission and
communication
places and sometimes – weather conditions
and extremes of a different nature than current
systems were designed to manage; in which
case the current assumptions will need to be
refined to protect against future surprises and
uncertainties.
The increase in the frequency and intensity of
natural disasters such as cyclones, resulting
from global warming and climate change, pose
a serious threat to the economy of settlements
cost
 Fires and solar radiation
and buildings are at risk of destruction by
before
projections,
affecting the water table
communication
systems. In highly vulnerable regions, e.g. the
available
change
 High variability in wet and dry spells,
including houses, buildings, roads, railways,
drainage
extreme
conditioning in buildings.
in
Botswana are likely to affect infrastructure
sewerage,
frequent
 Impact of extreme temperatures and dry
Climate change risks
change
of
expected to become common.
industry play on the country’s GHG profile.
climate
projections
population displacement and migrations are
role that the two sectors, settlements and
of
induced
of being inundated.
highest at 46% followed by emissions from
impacts
environmentally
weather events, infrastructures are at risk
In 2000 emissions from residential were the
Predicted
the
migration patterns.
1
(www.unisdr.org).
systems.
Driving forces
The human influences and activities that, when combined with environmental
conditions, cause environmental changes (e.g. population growth, poverty, mining and
industry).
Pressures
The current pressures acting on the environment which result from human activities
(e.g. demand for water, GHG emissions, soil and water from industry).
State
The current condition of the environment including recent trends (e.g. existing water
shortages, level of air pollution).
Impacts
The consequences of the pressures on the environment (e,g, loss of biodiversity and
ecosystem health, human health). Specifically, the added impacts brought about by
climate change (exposure to climate risk + sensitivity to such risk).
Responses
The responses to address, correct or prevent negative impacts / environmental
damage, or conserve natural resources and maximise opportunities
The predicted impacts are magnified more in
other sectors (for example,changes in water
rural
supply,
areas
where
settlements
are
poorly
planned and developed. Predicted impacts are
outlined below;
and
 Reduction in power generation
Under global warming, climate change will
in
productivity,
Industry
Infrastructure
result
agricultural
humanmigration
increased
variability,
 Increased
increased
operational
costs
due
to
increased
incidences of extreme weather, in particular
 Prolonged dry spells may lead to increased
and these are importantly outside the range for
ground movement, changes in groundwater
which current infrastructure was designed and
and water table
built;
 Degradation
of
materials
due
to
high
temperatures and solar radiation
 Infrastructure damages due to storms and
Existing coping strategies
flood events.
 High
operational
costs
in
maintaining
infrastructure due to extreme temperatures
The cabinet of the government of Botswana
has
a
committee
on
agriculture
and
 Fire damages to infrastructures
environment
 Wind storms and lightning damages to
proposals for policies, laws and regulations
infrastructures
for
due to increased high temperatures and
prolonged dry spells
 Settlements damages due to storms and
flash floods
 Inaccessibility of rural settlements in times
to destruction
of
road
infrastructures
 Wind storms and lightning damages to
infrastructures
 Other impacts on humansettlements from
climate
change
recommend
well as to recommend laws and programmes
 Linking settlement with wildfire outbreaks
floods due
Considers,
relating to agriculture and the environment, as
Settlements
of
which
are
likely
to
be
experiencedindirectly through effects on
the
harmonization
environmental
successful
policies
strategies
of
agriculture
(DEA,
on
2010).
and
Some
infrastructure
development and a set of regulations have
been put in place by the government of
Botswana in trying to alleviate the impacts of
climate change on constructions, settlements
and infrastructures.
These includes (Aniku,
2011):
 Construction of production infrastructure
for the integrated poverty alleviation and
housing scheme has been constructed in
the Kgatleng and North East Districts.
 Botswana
has
infrastructure
invested
development
in
to
rural
facilitate
agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
 Provision
of
physical
and
social
infrastructure to improve the welfare of the
rural and urban population
 In 1990 Botswana adopted the Policy on
Natural
Resources
Conservation
and
Development (also known as the National
Conservation Strategy -NCS)
 Paragraph (b) of section 7.4.5, of the NCS
states
the
need
for
EIA
for
new
development projects
 Following the adoption of EIA policy by
Parliament
in
1990,
several
government/donor supported, and private
sector EIAs for major projects have been
undertaken
 Section 65 (2) of the Mines and Minerals Act
of 1999, requires an applicant to submit a
comprehensive EIS as part of the project
feasibility study report with the application
for the licence
 Botswana has a strong investment record in
the road and water and sanitation sectors,
and has successfully increased rural access
to power
 Good internal connectivity by road among
main cities and population centres
economy, this will not only brings positive
environmental effects, but also will allow
Botswana to take an active part in the low
carbon growth market, giving the country a
to
participate
in
the
production of goods and services that are
currently in high demand.
to traditional industry and industrial methods
owing to a move towards a low carbon
economy will be offset by the advantages of
participating in the low carbon growth market
Botswana
Climate
 Human capital, skills development and
acquisition - on various socio-economic
sectors, including developing indicators for
monitoring impacts
 Stimulating technological progress in
energy /infrastructure/ transportation: To
mitigate emissions by increasing renewable
energy generation and use of new low
carbon technologies.
 Trade and investment opportunities by
applying new CDM mechanisms such as
REDD+.
 Investment in agriculture and forestry and
reducing emissions from avoided
deforestation.
 Incentives and regulation for low carbon
growth
 Energy efficiency:
 Investigating opportunities for using
Charcoal:
 Fridges: Solar heating:
 Urban solid waste: and increase in recycling
 Incentives for research and training related
studies, to expand knowledge about the
impacts of climate change.
 Implementing Transport modal shifts:
The following strategies can help the country
adapt to the impact of climate change:
Infrastructure
 Integrate climate change related issues into
development planning
Government believes that any losses accrued
(draft
 Finance for mitigation and adaptation
housing and town planning.
As Botswana moves towards a low carbon
opportunity
targeted studies and assessments.
 Housing: applying energy efficiency
Possible adaptation measures
good
refinement through intensive consultations and
Change
Policy
document).
The Low carbon Growth pillars presented
below are only indicative and will need further
 Build climate resilient infrastructure
 Apply improved planning strategies
 Enforce building regulations and standards
 Flood resistant designing and construction
 Sanitation and proper drainage systems
 Improved disaster risk planning
Settlements
 Build more climate resilient settlements
 Apply improved planning strategies
 Encourage the enforcement of settlement
standards
 Apply
flood
resistant
designing
and
construction for settlement buildings.
References& Additional readings
 Ensure accessibility of rural settlements by
major transportation means during floods.
 Ensure proper drainage systems in and
around settlements, in flood prone areas.
D.,
(2011).
Environmental
sustainable development –
the case of
Botswana.Department
environmental
of
affairs. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from:
mainstreaming.org/documents/EA%20in%20
 Encourage the enforcement of building
standards
resistant
designing
and
 Apply Environmental Impact Assessments
constructions
DEA,
(2010).Botswana’s
implementation
of
principle
declaration.Department
 Flood resistant designing and construction
for
Botswana%20-%20David%20Aniku.pdf
2.
flood
construction for buildings
(EIA)
Aniku,
assessment (EA) as a planning tool for
http://www.environmental-
Industry
 Apply
1.
and
mining
purposes.
Key Questions
 Identify key relevant policy instruments
related to this sector?
 What are the current capacities for climate
risk management in this sector?
 List weaknesses, gaps, and what is missing
in terms of CRM in this sector?
 List the desired capacities for CRM?
 Which institutions and existing initiatives
and projects should be involved?
Affairs. Botswana.
of
profile
on
10
Rio
of
Environmental