Climate Resilient Development in Rural Southern Africa: Gaps and Prospects

The climate crisis is a sad global reality threatening existentialism. People, ecosystems, and socio-economic systems require protection against the climate change risk. This chapter evaluates climate resilient development in rural Southern Africa, one of the most vulnerable regions in the Global South. The goal of the chapter is to critically assess the concept of climate resilient development, assess the progress rural Southern Africa has recorded to date, while noting the gaps and prospects for catching up with the rest of the world. The chapter brings to light that rural Southern Africa is struggling to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change amidst lack of adequate financial, technical, and scientific support from government and global financial institutions. The quest for climate resilient development in rural Southern Africa is nonetheless evident in the agriculture sectors, soil and water conservation sectors, pest and disease control, green energy development, and other climate proofing efforts. The chapter concludes that climate resilient development is the ultimate solution to climate change threat and the harm it brings. Hence, the need to consolidate the achievements to date and push for more and better capacity building in future.