Mobility as climate change adaptation in South Africa: Exploring the legal and policy significance of artificial intelligence

Abstract

This study explores the intersection of mobility, climate change adaptation and artificial intelligence (AI) in South Africa. As climate change impacts mobility patterns, South Africa needs effective adaptation strategies, especially to manage the mobility of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and prevent maladaptation. Artificial intelligence is used to improve lives and livelihoods in such situations, but it raises legal and policy questions. The objective of the article is to uncover the legal and policy implications of AI’s role as a climate technology for adaptation amongst IDPs in South Africa. The article utilises a qualitative desk-based approach to analyse legal frameworks, literature, official records such as parliamentary transcripts, non-governmental organisations (NGO) reports and online repositories on IDPs’ mobility patterns and adaptation, as well as the South African government’s technological interventions to support better adaptation. The findings reveal that AI can improve the planning of IDPs’ relocation. Its tools can improve needs assessment, resource allocation, protection services or infrastructure planning. However, South Africa’s legal frameworks lack specific provisions on AI. Hence, regulations are needed to address AI’s evolving role in climate adaptation in South Africa.
Contribution: The study concluded that with AI policies and laws, maladaptation associated with mobility can be mitigated in South Africa.