Mandeni: The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) is preparing for its second Built Environment Climate Change Indaba (BECCI) scheduled for next week. The event will focus on creating a climate-resilient built environment in South Africa, integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) throughout the construction lifecycle, as well as in national, provincial, and local government processes and regulations.

According to South African Government News Agency, the CBE is a public entity under the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, established by the Council for the Built Environment Act 43 of 2000. It coordinates six councils for the built environment professions, including architecture and engineering. The two-day indaba is set to take place in the Mandeni Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal next Thursday and Friday, a region that has faced severe weather challenges in recent years.

Recent natural disasters in KwaZulu-Natal, exacerbated by inadequate drainage and building standards, have caused s
ignificant damage, including to over 13,000 homes, disrupting water supply, and making roads impassable. The recent snowfall further highlights the increasing severity and unpredictability of South Africa’s weather patterns, underscoring the urgent need for policy and planning responses to enhance infrastructure resilience.

The indaba will be organized under the theme ‘Co-creation of spaces and places that respond to just transition.’ It aims to bring together stakeholders from the engineering and built environment sectors, disaster management, and the South African Weather Service (SAWS) to collaborate on creating sustainable, resilient, and equitable spaces that address climate change and socioeconomic disparities.

The event is crucial in the context of CBE’s mandate to transform the built environment, promote sustainable development, and contribute to inclusive socioeconomic growth. It will seek to foster collaboration to generate new knowledge and insights aimed at reducing and mitigating the impact of
climate change in the sector.

The outcomes from BECCI 2024 are expected to influence CBE’s operations and those of its stakeholders at various levels. The indaba will also focus on addressing climate change-related challenges facing South Africa’s built environment and vulnerable communities. Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson and Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala, among others, are anticipated to attend the event.