Better information to weather the onslaught of climate change becomes available {writer: Leon Alberts }

Increasing weather-related damage to property as a result of severe weather conditions over the past year has led to a sharp rise in insurance claims by homeowners in South Africa.

As a result, homeowners are being urged to review their home insurance policies ahead of further expected cold spells and rainfall in the coming months.

In the interim, Western Cape municipalities and government departments, as well as property developers and others in the private sector, will soon be able to measure how effectively they are dealing with the impact of climate change.

A monitoring and evaluation system has been developed to establish an overall benchmark, and to measure annual progress in implementing a climate change strategy.

According to Andrew Lilley, chief operations officer of CIB Insurance Solutions, this year alone there has been a 30% increase in weather-related insurance claims for property.

“Heavier than normal rainfall resulted in abnormal flooding in both Joburg and many coastal areas over the past year, prompting a spike in insurance claims from homeowners. With the rainy season starting again in the Western Cape, we expect this to increase further in the coming months.”

Lilley says that while normal rainfall is not likely to cause damage to houses, the heavier rains that are now being experienced in South Africa mean that more homeowners are starting to file claims for leaks in their roofs, as well as rising damp and flooding.

“Many of these claims are justified, as homeowners take out buildings insurance specifically to deal with such problems, however, people must be aware that there is also some responsibility placed with the homeowners to upkeep their home properly,” he adds.

Lilley cautions, however, that if your property has not been properly maintained, this could cause a problem when submitting a claim. “If you notice damp or moisture occurring on the ceilings or walls of your house and don’t have this seen to, it can lead to a serious problem later on.”

It is important that homeowners start looking at their home as they would their car. “If your car is damaged or starts making a strange noise, you take it straight to a mechanic to have it looked at. The same should be true for your house. A property needs the same level of attention, and a small cost for maintenance now is far better than the cost of fixing a more severe problem later on,” says Lilley.

“People often consider vehicle insurance to be more important than home insurance, as they are more concerned about the theft of their vehicle than anything else.

“However, it is just as important to make sure that your home is adequately insured, particularly with the increase in serious weather conditions,” he adds.

Homeowners can do basic checks in order to minimise the possible impact from severe weather conditions:

• Ensure that your property has adequate drainage;

• Ensure that all roof surfaces are maintained on a regular basis;

• Check that your roof and ridges have been adequately waterproofed;

• Ensure that all gutters are clear from obstructions or blockages; and

• Have your house checked twice a year for signs of damage and wear and tear.

Climate change

The new monitoring and evaluation system that has been developed is considered a major step forward in implementing the Western Cape Climate Change Response Strategy and Action Plan, and comes five years after a first phase study was undertaken to understand the complexity and effects of climate change on the Western Cape and its residents.

The proposed monitoring and evaluation system has numerous indicators for each of four key outcome areas: water, land, carbon footprint mitigation, and research and monitoring. It will ensure that climate change issues are included in key government service delivery programmes.

“Recent crisis events in the Western Cape such as water shortages have all served to heighten awareness of potential impacts of climate change,” says Sheila Imrie, senior hydrogeologist at earth sciences consultancy Umvoto Africa, which facilitated the development of the system for the province’s Department of Environmental Affairs and
Development Planning.

“The proposed system should provide clear signals to provincial departments, municipalities, civil society and the private sector regarding the provincial government’s focus on climate change response, sustainable development, environmental management and conservation imperatives,” she adds.

The system became officially operational in May. A system review is planned later in the year and relevant data collation and analysis will take place annually.