04/08/2026
The Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) has conducted several community workshops and popular education on the Climate Change Act 2024 Gazette. Throughout communities visited in Sasolburg, Bophelong, and Sebokeng communities have raised different concerns as they experience and understand climate change differently. Amongst the common factors expressed by the majority, is that communities are already adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Throughout communities engagement, VEJA has outlined seven points that emphasize government backlogs as communities bare the brunt. Delays in rolling out the National Adaptation Strategy under South Africa's Climate Change Act have significant consequences for environmental justice organisations in South Africa. These organisations often work directly with communities that are already experiencing the impacts of climate change and environmental pollution.
1. Communities remain more vulnerable
Without a coordinated national adaptation strategy, communities continue to face:
Increased flooding and storm damage.
Water shortages and prolonged droughts.
Heat waves affecting the elderly, children, and outdoor workers.
Reduced food security due to changing weather patterns.
Environmental justice organisations often have to respond to these impacts with limited resources instead of supporting long-term resilience.
2. Delayed access to funding
Many climate adaptation grants require projects to align with national or provincial adaptation priorities. If government strategies are delayed:
Funding opportunities may be postponed.
Donors may be reluctant to invest without clear government direction.
NGOs may struggle to secure resources for community adaptation projects.
3. Limited influence on local planning
Municipalities are expected to integrate climate adaptation into their Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and other planning processes. Delays at the national level can result in:
Municipalities lacking guidance on adaptation priorities.
Climate risks not being adequately considered in development decisions.
Continued investment in infrastructure that is vulnerable to climate impacts.
4. Greater burden on civil society
Environmental justice organisations often step in where government capacity is limited by:
Educating communities about climate risks.
Conducting vulnerability assessments.
Supporting disaster preparedness.
Restoring ecosystems such as wetlands and riverbanks.
Advocating for vulnerable groups.
This increases demands on organisations that may already have limited staff and funding. VEJA continues to lobby for Loss and Damage from climate catastrophes endured by affected communities.
5. Continued environmental inequality
Climate change does not affect everyone equally. Poor and historically disadvantaged communities are often:
Located near polluted industrial areas.
More exposed to flooding or extreme heat.
Less able to recover after disasters.
Delays in adaptation planning can deepen these inequalities because the communities most at risk continue to receive insufficient protection.
6. Weaker accountability
A national adaptation strategy provides measurable goals, responsibilities, and timelines. Without it:
It is harder for civil society to monitor government performance.
Communities have fewer benchmarks against which to assess progress.
Advocacy efforts become more challenging because responsibilities may not be clearly assigned.
7. Missed opportunities for community participation
Environmental justice organisations play an important role in ensuring that affected communities have a voice in climate policy. Delays can reduce opportunities for:
Public consultation.
Incorporating local and Indigenous knowledge.
Ensuring adaptation measures reflect community needs and priorities.
What CSOs and CBOs can do!
Even while waiting for full implementation of the National Adaptation Strategy, CSOs and CBOs can:
Advocate for the timely publication and implementation of the strategy.
Participate in public consultations and policy engagement.
Conduct community climate vulnerability assessments.
Build partnerships with municipalities, universities, and research institutions.
Implement local adaptation projects, such as water conservation, urban greening, wetland restoration, and community climate education.
Monitor government commitments and hold public institutions accountable for implementing the Climate Change Act.
Environmental justice organisations are essential because they connect national climate policy with the lived experiences of communities.
They help ensure that adaptation is not only about responding to climate risks but also about addressing social inequality, protecting human rights, and ensuring that vulnerable communities are not left behind.
