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Mitigating climate change in city of Tshwane

infrastructure be redesigned for effective climate change periods of heavy rainfall, which can then be used
mitigation. Furthermore, simulation and modeling tools during droughts. This would offer multiple benefits,
should be integrated into the planning and decision- such as water storage, flood prevention, and drought
making processes of climate adaptation plans and policy mitigation. 55
development. In this technology- and data-driven era, The findings of this study contribute to the body of
data is crucial for forecasting and decision-making, 50,51 knowledge by demonstrating the applicability of an
especially rainfall data. Hence, rainfall data, runoff integrated model for assessing the impacts of climate
coefficients, and runoff data for the past three decades change. The study enhances the understanding of
should be critically analyzed to identify trends in the climate change impacts in South Africa, specifically
area. This analysis will inform both structural and non- the City of Tshwane. With the 10-year predictions
structural solutions for stormwater management in of climate change and its potential effects (with or
South Africa. At present, there is no climate change without the implementation of climate change policy),
legislation in South Africa, as the draft climate change policymakers will be better positioned to prioritize
bill published in June 2018 has yet to be implemented. climate change policy implementation and make
Thus, the implementation of South Africa’s climate informed decisions on developing effective adaptation
change laws and policies is strongly recommended. This and mitigation strategies.
recommendation aligns with the view of Averchenkova
et al., who emphasized that, despite South Africa’s 5. Conclusion and recommendations
52
sophisticated governance systems, the country faces
challenges in implementing national climate policy. 5.1. Conclusion
The quality of the drainage system in the City This study focused on assessing the impact of climate
of Tshwane also needs to be assessed. A reliable change on the City of Tshwane, South Africa. Based
stormwater collection system should be designed with on the simulation results, the following conclusions are
interlocking features, particularly for rural and urban drawn:
areas that require protection from flooding, given the (i) The effects of climate change – particularly flooding
economic implications. Stormwater must be approached – have significant cost implications, leading to
as a hazard, as it can damage road structures and other increased expenses for the development and repair
infrastructure. Effective management planning will of roads and stormwater infrastructure.
require detailed information on how and where impacts (ii) Rainfall dataset observed from 1981 to 2022
will occur, as well as data on the cost and performance showed considerable variability, with periods of
of stormwater management practices, such as green heavy rainfall and drought. Projections suggest
infrastructure strategies. At present, stormwater more extreme climate trends in the future, including
management in Tshwane mainly focuses on collecting severe floods and droughts if climate change
runoff and directing it to nearby watercourses. This policies are not implemented.
implies that the present design of the stormwater (iii) Implementing climate change policies could lead
drainage system prioritizes flow management without to an annual improvement in GDP by 25%, a 3%
sufficient consideration for environmental preservation. reduction in GHG emissions, and a 15% increase in
The stormwater collection system around the City of infrastructure performance.
Tshwane is full of waste, grass, and untreated sewage
due to lack of maintenance and population growth, The novel contribution of this study lies in the
highlighting the need for a redesign. integration of the DES and SD models to investigate
To address variations in rainfall patterns leading the impact of climate change on roads and stormwater
to drought, the country could adopt coping strategies infrastructure in the City of Tshwane, as well as to
such as water resource conservation and distribution represent mitigation strategies over a 10-year period.
techniques, modern irrigation facilities, and adjustments Thus, the study contributes both methodologically and
in cropping patterns to align with rainfall trends. 53,54 empirically by generating data related to climate change
Furthermore, reservoirs with large capacities should that can assist the relevant stakeholders in making
be established in areas vulnerable to both floods and informed decisions on its mitigation. The model could
droughts to mitigate the impacts of these extreme be further improved by incorporating factors, such as
weather events. Mechanisms can be developed to infrastructure maintenance, for which data is limited.
harvest the floodwater into reservoirs for storage during There is also a lack of accurate, city-specific data on

Volume 22 Issue 2 (2025) 199 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025080049