Sustainable household practices for environmental sustainability in informal settlements: insights from Kanyama ward 10, Lusaka.
Date
2020
Authors
Kapembwa, Matildah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
This study on sustainable household practices for transforming environmental concerns into environmental solutions in informal settlements was conducted in Kanyama Ward 10, Zones 98 and 100, Lusaka District. The study identified household practices among residents that could contribute to enhance household environmental sustainability and assessed the costs and resident’s willingness to pay for household greening. Data was collected using structured interviews administered to 145 residents and interview guides for 11 key informants. Quantitative data was analysed using chi-square, two sample t-test and the Pearson Product Moment correlation, while qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. The results showed that the major environmental concerns in Zones 98 and 100 of Kanyama Ward 10, prioritised from the resident’s point of view included waste management with 79 percent in Zone 100 and 82 percent in Zone 98, flooding 67 percent in Zone 100 and 80 percent in Zone 98 and poor drainage system 51percent in Zone 100 and 59 percent in Zone 98. Some of the household practices by residents capable of enhancing environmental sustainability were identified as maintaining sanitary home environment at 42 percent in Zone 98 and 61percent in Zone 100, disposing waste in bins 11 percent in Zone 98 and 15 percent in Zone 100 and planting trees/vegetables 7 percent in Zone 98 and 24 percent in Zone 100. Results show that more sustainable household practices in Zone 100 resulted in reduced environmental concerns. There was a significant positive correlation between household practice cost incurred for greening and average monthly income earned by respondents (r ≥ 0.5; p <0.05). This meant that households with higher monthly household incomes spent more on household greening. Furthermore, household income levels had an insignificant effect on the resident’s willingness to pay for household greening (𝑋2=0.781, p = 0.321).
In conclusion resident’s engagement in sustainable household practices and willingness to pay for greening in informal settlements was significantly influenced by their levels of household income as there was a relationship between level of income and cost of environmental sustainability. Residents’ attitudes towards household greening and levels of income could prove to be either a hindrance or motivating factor in achieving environmental sustainability. As such, the study recommended sensitization, providing entrepreneurship skills and behavioural change campaigns in the area in order to instil the importance of household greening and improve their levels of income.
Description
Thesis of Master of Science in Spatial Planning