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PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS:

IMPLEMENTATION OF WHITE PAPER ON CLIMATE CHANGE

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS 06 JUNE 2012

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Presentation Outline

• Legislation and Policy Frameworks• Challenges experienced in respect of human

settlements• Current Strategies• Proposed programmes / initiatives

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• Legislative & Policy Frameworks

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Legislative & Policy Frameworks• South African Constitution section 24: “Everyone has the

right to have assess adequate housing”• Adequate housing: more than a roof over one's head,

includes, inter alia:– adequate space; physical accessibility; adequate basic

infrastructure, (water supply, sanitation & waste management facilities); suitable environmental quality & health-related factors; and adequate and accessible location with regard to work and basic facilities, all of which should be available at an affordable cost.

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Legislative & Policy Frameworks• Housing Act, 1997: Municipalities must ensure

that inhabitants have access to adequate housing and that conditions not conducive to health and safety of the inhabitants are prevented or removed;

• Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements, 2004: Using housing delivery as an instrument for the development of sustainable human settlements

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Legislative & Policy Frameworks• Comprehensive Plan for the Development of

Sustainable Human Settlements, 2004: emphasis on quality of the housing product and the environment.

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• Challenges in respect of Human Settlements

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Challenges in respect of Human Settlements

• Settlements are smoggy, barren wastelands;• Sprawling settlements – time and distance

travelled to work;• Informal settlements on invaded land with no

basic services therefore putting more pressure on the environment;

• Households utilise non-renewable energy sources (e.g. coal, paraffin heaters) – toxic fumes emitted

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Challenges in respect of Human Settlements

• Non-renewable energy is unsustainable & will be depleted in future;

• Poor indoor air quality; • Houses cold in winter and hot in summer – require

significant energy consumption both for cooking and heating:

• Coal: high levels of air pollution compromising family health

• High electricity: increased load shedding/blackouts

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• Current Strategies

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Current Strategies• The National Norms and Standards in respect

of housing development were enhanced to include guidelines Environmentally Sound Housing:

– House Orientation: houses should face north to obtain maximum sunlight;

– House plan & layout: windows, doors, roof overhang on the northern side;

– Design units that share walls as they provide insulation against heat loss & undesirable heat gain

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Current Strategies

• Energy efficient materials: materials able to heat during the day and release it at night;

• Insulation: keeps the house cool on a hot day and warm on a cold day;

• Windows: larger windows to allow maximum sunlight;

• Green ‘lungs’: to purify air , provide food and beautify.

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Current Strategies

• Water efficient design considerations: correct pipe sizing and correct water pressure:

• Water saving devices: Pressure Reducing Valve to control the flow of water to the building, taps, toilets with optimum water conservation devices,

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Current Strategies• Informal Settlement Upgrading Programme:

improve quality of life, securing land tenure and providing basic services;

• Programme for Provision of Social & Economic Amenities;

• Integrated Residential Development Programme; • Housing Development Agency (HDA) – Housing

Institution mandated to identify well located (decreasing travel times & reducing carbon emissions).

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• Proposed Initiatives / Programmes

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Proposed Initiatives• Municipal Densification Strategies: Low

energy for transport, create more liveable spaces;

• Aligning the housing programme to the latest National Building Regulations on Energy Efficient measures.

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The end