The Role of Public Leadership in Promoting Citizen Participation in Addressing Climate Change Impacts in South Africa

Description

Page: 1531-1537

S. Teyise and V. Jarbandhan (School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa)

Public participation is essential in addressing environmental issues, especially in the context of climate change. The importance of this was highlighted in the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, particularly through Principle 10. This principle affirms that “environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level,” emphasising the need for individuals to have meaningful access to environmental information held by public authorities and opportunities to be actively involved in decision-making processes related to environmental policies and actions. In alignment with this global commitment, it is the responsibility of all nations to promote and strengthen public involvement in climate initiatives. As the impacts of climate change grow more severe especially for vulnerable communities already facing social and economic disadvantages, these groups are increasingly at risk. Therefore, it is crucial for such communities to build adaptive capacities that improve their resilience to climate change. This paper investigates the role and effectiveness of public leaders in fostering citizen participation in addressing the multifaceted effects of climate change in South Africa. By employing a qualitative desktop analysis, this study provides a thorough analysis of policy documents, academic literature, and other pertinent sources to ascertain the effectiveness of current participatory frameworks. The paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on climate governance by identifying practical, context-specific strategies aimed at enhancing resilience and sustainability through participatory approaches.