The North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) is prioritising community-led climate adaptation to strengthen the province’s resilience to climate change, with a focus on ecosystem-based approaches and climate-smart agriculture.
The department outlined its approach during the launch of the North West Climate Change Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025–2030. The strategy aims to translate climate commitments into practical interventions that protect communities, livelihoods and the provincial economy.
The North West faces growing climate-related risks, including rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, storms and flooding. These challenges threaten agriculture, water security, biodiversity and rural livelihoods, highlighting the need to strengthen communities’ ability to prepare for and respond to changing climatic conditions.
A provincial climate risk and vulnerability assessment completed in 2021 identified rising temperatures, rainfall variability, longer periods of drought, and an increase in storms and flooding among the key climate hazards facing the province. The findings, alongside the province’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory, helped inform the development of its climate change response strategy.
Community-led climate adaptation is intended to ensure that responses reflect the needs and circumstances of the people most affected by climate change. Climate-smart agricultural practices, for example, can help farmers adapt to changing rainfall patterns, while ecosystem-based approaches can support the protection and restoration of natural resources on which communities depend. These are examples of the approaches being prioritised, rather than confirmation that specific projects have already been implemented.
The strategy also aims to strengthen coordination among provincial government departments, municipalities and other stakeholders, while integrating climate considerations into government planning, budgeting and service delivery. Effective implementation will require clearly defined responsibilities, adequate institutional capacity, funding and mechanisms to monitor progress.
The approach aligns with the Climate Change Act 2024, which requires provincial and municipal climate response planning to be informed by assessments of local climate risks and vulnerabilities and guided by the best available scientific evidence.
DEDECT Deputy Director of Environmental Planning, Policy and Coordination Adrian Van Straatee outlined seven priority goals that will guide implementation of the strategy, including interventions planned for the first 24 months, covering 2026 and 2027.
Van Straatee emphasised that the priorities are evidence-based and scientifically informed, drawing on three studies specific to the province rather than assumptions about its climate challenges.
He said successful implementation would depend on clearly assigned responsibilities, the integration of climate action into government plans and budgets, and the delivery of measurable outcomes.
Van Straatee also highlighted the importance of accountability, noting that government departments and municipalities would be expected to fulfil their implementation responsibilities, with consequences for non-compliance.
Ultimately, the success of the North West Climate Change Strategy will depend on effective implementation and its ability to help communities adapt to climate risks, protect natural resources and sustain rural livelihoods across the province.
