Abstract:
Current global climate change projections indicate that local governments and their communities cannot rely on assumptions nor use past trends as a proxy for extreme climate events in the future. The Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach adopted for the implementation of the Five City Network Project (Cape Town, South Africa; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Maputo, Mozambique; Windhoek, Namibia; and Port St. Louis, Mauritius) increased awareness of participating local authorities and their communities on the science and impacts of climate change. The project addresses knowledge, resources, capacity and networking gaps on the theme: 'Strengthening urban governments in planning adaptation.'