This book is the first volume of the two-volume proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Resilience, Smart and Sustainable Futures (ICCRSF 2025), a response to the global call of integrated transdisciplinary and forward looking solutions for the current climate crisis and sustainability challenges facing the world. This book serves as a repository of cutting edge research, focusing on policy analysis and practice based insights focused on fostering climate resilience and accelerating the pathway to sustainable and smart futures.

The book aims to document, disseminate, and promote the rigorously peer-reviewed research presented during the ICCRSF 2025. The papers presented here bridge theory and applied research and bridge the gaps between academia, industry and civil society. Topics covered here include, but are not limited to causes and means to ameliorate climate change effects, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, circular economy and resource efficiency, sustainable tourism, and ecosystem adaptation.

Serves as a repository of cutting edge research Is the first volume of the two volume proceedings of the ICCRSF 2025 Written by leading experts in the field

Autorentext

Kaitano Dube is a distinguished professor of tourism geography at the University of South Africa. With more than 10 years of teaching and research experience in areas of climate change, tourism, aviation sustainability and education. He has published and co-edited 18 highly cited international books and more than 70 international journal articles in the areas of his research interest. An NRF C2-rated researcher, Professor Dube is a visiting professor at Emirates Aviation University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He is the founding SARChI research chair holder for Tourism Sustainability and Climate Change at the Vaal University of Technology.

David Chikodzi is a Professor at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) who has widely researched in areas that include climate change, dryland livelihoods, Earth Observation, spatial analysis, and disaster risk reduction. David has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, as well as editing and authoring eight books.  . In his over 15 years of academic work, he has participated in several local and internationally funded research projects across Southern Africa and has widely published in heritage-based education 5.0.

Kevin Mearns is a full professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Professor Mearns spe­cialises in the research areas of sustainability, sustainable tourism, commu­nity-based tourism, ecotourism, and the social aspects of protected areas in southern and eastern Africa. Professor Mearns has supervised more than 56 postgraduate masters and doctoral candidates to completion and has pub­lished more than 100 peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles, chapters, and conference proceedings.
Dr. Clarice P. Mudzengi is a climate adaptation researcher and rangeland specialist with a PhD in Spatial Ecology and Remote Sensing. Her work focuses on dryland agriculture, ecosystem services, and nature-based solutions to build resilience in semi-arid systems. A curiosity-driven, problem-focused researcher, she has published extensively on climate change, livestock–wildlife interactions, and sustainable natural resource management. 

Dr Michael Mubvuma is an innovative climate change scientist and crop modelling expert with a strong passion for dryland farming systems. Dr Mubvuma has published several climate change-related and has worked extensively in “climate-crop-water-soil” modelling research. Michael has produced crop-climate models that have shaped and improved legume yields in the dryland regions of Southern Africa. Dr Mubvuma is currently a senior lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University, in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, where he teaches global environmental issues and climate change. 

Speech S Nelana is an Associate Professor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research Innovation Commercialisation and Internationalisation at the Vaal University of Technology, South Africa.

Lazarus Maleho is an Associate Professor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences at Vaal University of Technology. Prof. Maleho has more than 15 years of experience in academia, among the duties and roles he has played include lecturing, programme coordination, and Head of Department. Lazarus was involved in many policy developments at VUT, and he was a member of several committees. His background is in strategic communication, Public Relations and Media Studies.

Ms. Sisamkele S. Mdoda is a tourism researcher whose work focuses on tourism, hospitality, and aviation within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. She holds a Master of Management in Travel and Tourism Services Management from the Vaal University of Technology, South Africa. In 2025, she was awarded the Emerging Researcher Award for her contributions to tourism and aviation research

Inhalt

Drought histories, nature and impact in southern Zimbabwe, 1940 to present..- Carbon Dioxide Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation Potential of Wetlands in the Mpumalanga Lowveld Region, South Africa.- The Role of Indigenous Plants in Climate Change Mitigation in Semi-Arid Southern.- Living With the Land: Identifying Positive and Negative Environmental Behaviour in Khanyayo Village, Eastern Cape.- Soil classification and probabilistic modeling identify reliable multivariate urban ecosystem service potential.- Exploring the Drivers of Biogas Adoption as a Sustainable Energy Solution in the Peri-Urban areas of Mbarara City, Western Uganda.- Assessing the Financial Sustainability of Energy-Efficient Interventions in Low-Income Urban Communities: Evidence from the Kuyasa Clean Development Mechanism Project.- Investigation Of Challenges and Opportunities for Adopting Electric Public Transportation (Buses): A Case Study of the City Of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa.- Three-Weekend Week: A Novel Strategy to Reduce Traffic Congestion.- Toward a Contextualized Sustainability Index for Green Hydrogen Production in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Literature-Based Indicator Framework Aligned with the SDGs.- A review of key issues in fashion and sustainability over the past decade (2015-2025).- A Critical Analysis of Civil Society's Engagement in South Africa's Just Energy Transition: Dynamics and Debates.- Mechanical Performance of Polyester Composites Reinforced with Recycled Rubber Particles of Varying Sizes.