There is overwhelming evidence that the climate is changing. It is the poorest countries and people who are the most vulnerable to this threat and who will suffer the most. This book shows how increasing urbanization and growing poverty levels mean that it is imperative to ask how climate change might impact on asset accumulation and food security for the urban poor. It demonstrates how these three, often separate foci, can be brought together to frame a holistic urban adaptation approach. Furthermore, although much has been written about climate change, limited evidence exists in southern Africa of how climate change has been integrated in urban planning.

The authors explore the urban climate change nexus linking asset adaptation, climate change science and food security through several case study cities. These include Cape Town, George and Khara Hais (South Africa), Lusaka (Zambia), Maputo (Mozambique), Mombasa (Kenya) and Harare (Zimbabwe). The results shed light on how this nexus might be explored from different perspectives, both theoretical and practical, in order to plan for a more resilient future.

Climate Change, Assets and Food Security in Southern African Cities comprises ten chapters which focus on southern African cities, with each chapter written by highly experienced academics, research-focused practitioners and professional planners. Although the book concentrates on southern African cities, the insights which are presented can be used to understand other urban centres in low and middle-income countries outside of this region and around the world.

About the Author

Bruce Frayne is Assistant Professor and Director of the Master of Development Practice (MDP) program in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED), University of Waterloo, Canada

Caroline Moser is Professor of Urban Development and Director of the Global Urban Research Centre (GURC), School of Environment and Development, University of Manchester, UK, and Senior Non-Resident Fellow, Global Economy and Development, Brookings Institution, Washington DC, USA

Gina Ziervogel is a Lecturer in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Reviews

"... the book lays the groundwork for much-needed discussion on this issue. This type of discussion, as aptly illustrated in the book, needs to happen at multiple levels: between the state (national, regional and local levels) and citizenry, between countries and between individuals at a community level. The authors and editors have made a valuable contribution to the growing body of work on urban food security and have elevated the discourse on climate change, urbanisation and food security to a more secure footing." - Stefanie Swanepoel, Urban Africa

Book Information
ISBN 9781849714181
Author Bruce Frayne
Format Hardback
Page Count 218
Imprint Earthscan Ltd
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 560g