Planning and Climate Change in African Cities: Informal Urbanization and ‘Just’ Urban Transformations

Abstract

The proliferation of informal settlements and growing risks of climate change across African cities pose core questions to urban planning theory and practice. Where do informal settlements fit into future climate adaptation plans? What constitutes a ‘just’ climate transformation for African urbanization? And how does a ‘just’ climate transformation address the concerns of Africans in informal settlements? We conduct a literature review to highlight the importance of local, community-based knowledge production and action in addressing African urbanization and climate change. We show how informality and climate change impact each other across diverse African cities and conduct a detailed case study based on Accra, Ghana. We argue that national and global approaches to planning for urbanization and climate change are required to strengthen local community-based knowledge production and action.

Socio-Economic Dynamics Inhibiting Inclusive Urban Economic Development: Implications for Sustainable Urban Development in South African Cities

“…Irrefutably, urban planning is key to sustainable development. Proper planning creates space to address critical infrastructure shortages, improve urban living, promote inclusive and resilient urban futures, and promote community involvement in planning decisions and actions [15].…”

“…The unprecedented rate of crime results in looting and destruction of businesses and property, hence pushing away investors seeking to grow the economy. Perhaps, these social ills are attributable to what Cobbinah [15] notes as the widening inequalities within cities, unemployment, infrastructure deficits, concentration of vulnerable populations in vulnerable locations, and slum growth in South Africa. South Africa, like many other countries in Africa, suffers from the informality of activities in cities, such as informal economic activities and informal land occupation.…”

“…South Africa, like many other countries in Africa, suffers from the informality of activities in cities, such as informal economic activities and informal land occupation. Research shows that in some towns in South Africa, land ownership is brokered by traditional leadership and indigenous, or tribal, leaders [15]. Therefore, informality is a key feature of South Africa's urban areas [15,20].…”

“…Research shows that in some towns in South Africa, land ownership is brokered by traditional leadership and indigenous, or tribal, leaders [15]. Therefore, informality is a key feature of South Africa's urban areas [15,20]. The interrelationships of these challenges seem to undermine the efforts made by urban planners and developers towards achieving sustainable and inclusive urban development.…”

“…Previous studies show that the challenges of urbanization in South Africa reflect the fundamental weaknesses of the country's economy, weaknesses which severely limit the capacity of the urban areas to accommodate and employ rural migrants [12][13][14]. Moreover, research on sustainable development and urban planning in Africa shows that countries are confronted with two critical challenges, which are rapid urbanization and the severe impact of climate change [15]. It further underscores that most African countries have not yet departed from the colonial urban planning systems in order to effectively respond to the needs of rapid urbanization and high population growth.…”