“This study investigates the water resource management strategies in response to climate change in South Africa by drawing on the analysis of coping strategies adopted by small local municipalities in the Northern Cape province of South Africa in times of climate variability, specifically drought. To
establish which strategies enable long-term resilience to climate change impacts they are measured against various development criteria. By extrapolating these strategies, planning policies for water resource planning and management are developed to ensure water security against the impacts of climate change. Specifically the study:
shows the relationship between the change in temperature and rainfall and available water
resources in small towns in the Northern Cape for the past 30 years; documents existing coping strategies in times of climate variability (drought) in small towns
in the Northern Cape; proposes long-term strategies for dealing with the impacts of predicted climate change in small towns in the Northern Cape.”
