INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
CHALLENGES
The second implication is that it will test our
collective capacity to cope, eventually to
the most extreme degree imaginable. The
way that Cape Town dealt with Day Zero has
now become an international case study
in how decision-makers deal with complex
situations in which predictability has been
lost for a variety of reasons. In reality, Cape
Town dodged the bullet, but only by imposing
a draconian demand-management policy that
prevented total system collapse, but also
Greywater treatment
triggered a significant shock to the economy,
eroding business confidence. In reality, the
entire country is dealing with a Day Zero So, what can home owners, bodies corporate, about
scenario, and that’s an important message estate managers and HOAs do about this? infrastructure such as flood control measures
the
design
limitations
of
current
that will receive larger than average peak
because, with the recent good rains in the
Western Cape, it’s easy to forget how close Firstly, elect trustees or appoint directors and flows after extreme events. Ask them about
we came to disaster. But the underlying driver managing agents that are both competent water supply for fire management – a fire in
of the crisis has not changed. Just as quickly and conversant with global warming as an Braamfontein on 17 April 2017 gutted an entire
as the system flipped from near-total collapse issue. Denialists do not serve your best building simply because firefighters were
to near-total restoration in a short period interest, and they undermine adaptive efforts confronted with dry hydrants.
of time, so too can it flip back again. This is by raising alternative debates using well- the essence of complex systems – they are honed but false arguments. It’s not helpful if Finally,
impossible to predict, but they are also not a person with fiduciary responsibility, elected about coping strategies, as these will grow
steady-state. The only certainty is change, to act in the best interests of others, spends the support base needed for viable adaptive
and the rate of change is accelerating. their conspiracy responses – and keep an open mind. It’s easy
theories about colluding scientists enriching to go down the rabbit hole in one direction
themselves. Your best interests will be served only – most people think of floods, droughts or
by electing honest people, with an open mind, raging fires when asked about the impact of
and the willingness to forge partnerships. climate change. But, in reality, none of these
It’s the rate of change that harms you!
RISK MANAGEMENT
energy
in
propagating
generate
internal
conversations
is the most significant risk to life and human
This raises the question of the relationship
between homeowners associations (HOAs) Einstein said that the level of ingenuity wellbeing. Changes in climate affect every
and the municipalities in which they are needed to solve a problem exceeds the level living thing, and it’s the changes in biology
embedded. It helps little if the HOA develops of ingenuity that created the problem in the that pose the greatest threat. The spread
an the first place. What this means is that no single of toxic blue-green algae, which is releasing
fundamental entity will be able to solve the problems potent toxins into two-thirds of our national
services doesn’t. This speaks to the issue of arising from global warming. It will test our water resource impoundments, the multi-
cooperation and partnership that will be dealt collective capacity to forge partnerships, so drug-resistant pathogens being incubated
with later. your elected leadership should promote this in our sewerage-overloaded rivers, and the
endeavour rather than undermine it. primitive microbes awakening from millennia
adequate
municipality
The
third
coping
that
strategy,
provides
implication
is
that
but
of dormancy as the permafrost in the tundra
insurance
companies are way ahead of the curve on Secondly, mandate the directors and trustees melts are likely to have effects that will
this issue and they will be driving change long to forge partnerships. This implies that the increasingly be felt across society in ways few
before government or scientific organisations directors and/or trustees have the skills people can currently comprehend.
can get their ducks in a row. needed to create working relationships that become stronger than the individuals, and Global warming is real, folks. We all know
The good news is that you don’t have to do all transcend personal egos. Arguably the two prevention is better than cure, but we missed
the heavy thinking about the future because most important partnerships will be with your that boat a few years back, so now we need
risk owners have already taken this on board, insurance provider, and with the municipality to learn how to adapt because it’s too late to
and are thinking on your behalf. Anticipate big that provides basic services. In this regard, mitigate.
changes in policy requirements, most notably engage actively with these people. Ask the around coping strategies and due diligence municipality to give you a written document that will need to be performed by people stating the current and projected assurance elected to act on behalf of others. of supply levels for basic services like potable
water, sanitation and electricity. Ask them
14
INDUSTRY JOURNAL
. . .
Dr Anthony Turton