Infrastructure and climate change: Impacts and adaptations for South Africa

Arbeitspapier

This paper presents the results of the current study on the impact of climate change on the road and building infrastructure within South Africa. The approach builds upon previous work associated with the UNU-WIDER Development under Climate Change effort emphasizing the impact of climate change on roads. The paper illustrates how climate change effects on both road and building structures can be evaluated with the application of a new analysis system - the infrastructure planning support system. The results of the study indicate that the national level climate change cost impact in South Africa will vary between US$141.0 million average annual costs in the median climate scenario under an adaptation policy, and US$210.0 million average annual costs under a no adaptation scenario. Similarly, the costs will vary between US$457.0 million average annual costs in the maximum climate scenario under an adaptation policy scenario, and US$522.0 million average annual costs under a no adaptation scenario. The paper presents these costs at a provincial impact level through the potential impacts of 54 climate scenarios. Decadal costs are detailed through 2100.

Object Details

• ISBN: 978-92-9230-571-0
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: WIDER Working Paper ; No. 2012/105

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Climate; Natural Disasters and Their Management; Global Warming ; Environment and Growth ; Economywide Country Studies: Africa
• Subject: climate change ; infrastructure vulnerability ; infrastructure maintenance ; Klimawandel ; Infrastruktur ; Verkehrsinfrastruktur ; Infrastrukturinvestition ; Südafrika

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Chinowsky, Paul S. ; Schweikert, Amy E. ; Strzepek, Niko L. ; Strzepek, Kenneth R. ; Kwiatkowski, Kyle P.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
• (where): Helsinki
• (when): 2012

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/80906
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET