Paper short abstract:

Climate catastrophe is upon us, yet the take up of basic strategies to address it are elusive in KwaDukuza. In contrast, advanced green technologies to disentangle from state services are commonplace. This paper explores public political perception as a driving forces behind future urban imaginaries

Paper long abstract:

Climate change looms large, particularly in coastal African cities. Contrary to the imagery of an impending apocalyptic future, the reality is an ongoing, insidious, and chronic disaster currently unfolding. While seemingly straightforward strategies to combat this crisis, such as waste separation and eco-mobility, have long been embraced in urban sustainability ideals globally, their implementation remains elusive within the KwaDukuza and eThekwini regions of South Africa. Motivation for such practices are scarce. In stark contrast, more advanced green technological solutions, including solar panelling and rainwater harvesting have become commonplace. Across a diverse range of economic geographies water tanks are integrated into irrigation systems, meticulously filtered, and utilised for various household activities. These transitions away from reliance on public water supply systems are not merely pragmatic choices but also emblematic of a political response to future visions marred by corruption, economic instability, and civil unrest, with climate and environmental concerns relegated to the background, or simply unimagined. This paper explores dynamics of perceived political failures and party politics as driving forces behind carving out sustainable future imaginaries within the KwaDukuza and eThekwini municipalities. Specifically, the paper explores narratives around the shift away from dependence on public water supply, a shift happening at the crossroads of local politics, changing weather patterns and the tangible constraints of aging public infrastructures. In doing so, the paper advocates for a nuanced reframing of adaptation practices to encompass their full complexity within politically charged and financially strained environments.