2016年-世界发展银行全球_Promoting_Green_Urban_Development_in_African_Cities___eThekwini_South_Africa_Urban_Environmental_Profile_82页_6mb

Summary of Promoting Green Urban Development in African Cities: eThekwini Urban Environmental Profile

Core Content

The eThekwini Urban Environmental Profile is a comprehensive analysis of the environmental challenges and opportunities facing Durban, South Africa, as it undergoes rapid urbanization. The document is part of a World Bank project aimed at promoting green urban development in Africa by strengthening the relationship between urbanization, environmental assets, and ecosystem services. It outlines the current state of environmental assets, the drivers of environmental degradation, and the institutional challenges that hinder effective environmental management.

Main Points

1. Urbanization and Climate Change

• Rapid urbanization has significantly impacted eThekwini's natural environment, leading to the degradation of environmental assets.
• The city has experienced a moderate growth rate (1.13% annually from 2001–2011), which is slower than other African cities like Dar es Salaam and Kampala.
• Population projections suggest that by 2035, eThekwini's population could exceed 4 million, increasing pressure on resources and infrastructure.
• Climate change is exacerbating environmental challenges, including increased rainfall, coastal storms, and sea level rise, which lead to flooding, pollution spread, and ecosystem degradation.

2. Environmental Assets

• Terrestrial Assets: A significant portion of the city is covered with natural and semi-natural habitats (26% of the land area), but these are fragmented and often contiguous areas are less than 50 hectares.
• Aquatic Assets: There are 16 main rivers and estuaries, many of which have poor water quality. In 2010, 40% of river sites were rated in poor condition, and only 3% were rated good to intermediate.
• Coastal Assets: Coastal wetlands and mangroves are heavily degraded, with 24% of original wetlands permanently lost. Mangroves have been largely destroyed due to coastal development and port modernization.
• Air Quality: eThekwini has made progress in reducing air pollutants, including SO₂ and PM10, but vehicular emissions are becoming a growing concern.

3. Drivers of Environmental Vulnerability and Degradation

• Informal Settlements: Cover much of the city, lack basic services, and contribute to stormwater pollution and land degradation.
• Effluent Discharge: Approximately 209,847 households in informal settlements lack sanitation services, leading to direct and indirect effluent discharge into rivers.
• Resource Extraction: Activities like sand mining and land conversion have increased impervious surfaces, contributing to stormwater runoff and flooding.
• Port Development: The expansion of the Port of Durban has had a major impact on natural habitats, especially upland areas and coastal ecosystems.
• Solid Waste: Poor waste management practices contribute to water and coastal pollution, with illegal drainage into the sewer system creating combined sewer overflow.

4. Institutional Challenges

• The municipality lacks jurisdiction over traditional authority areas, where many critical environmental assets are located.
• There is fragmented governance with limited local authority and lack of integration between planning and environmental management processes.
• Only 12% of the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System (D'MOSS) is formally protected, limiting the ability to conserve key natural areas.
• Institutional fragmentation hinders cross-sectoral coordination and strategic planning, leading to misalignment of goals and ineffective resource management.

Key Findings

• Urbanization has led to environmental degradation, with a focus on land conversion, pollution, and fragmentation of ecosystems.
• Climate change is expected to increase storm intensity and sea level rise, worsening flooding, water stress, and coastal erosion.
• Informal settlements are a major source of environmental degradation due to lack of infrastructure and unregulated effluent discharge.
• Water quality is poor in many parts of the city, especially in rivers and estuaries, due to wastewater treatment challenges, illegal drainage, and land use changes.
• Mangroves and wetlands have been significantly reduced due to coastal development and land use conversion, with only 10% of wetlands in good or intermediate condition.
• Air quality improvements have been made, but vehicular emissions are a growing threat.
• Institutional limitations, such as lack of authority over traditional lands, fragmented governance, and poor integration of planning processes, are key barriers to effective environmental management.

Conclusion

This document provides a detailed overview of the environmental challenges facing eThekwini, emphasizing the interconnectedness between urban development, environmental degradation, and climate change. It serves as a tool for policymakers, planners, and stakeholders to better understand the drivers of environmental vulnerability and institutional barriers, and to promote sustainable and inclusive urban development in the region.