Adaptive Governance of Urban Informality in the Face of Climate Change: Street Vendor Practices in Johannesburg, South Africa

Background: Street vending plays a crucial role in providing income and employment to many people, especially in cities of the Global South, confronted by high unemployment and poverty. However, street vendors face significant vulnerabilities due to adverse regulations, poor infrastructure, lack of social protection, and exposure to climate change-related events. The overwhelming exposure to and prevalence of climate-related events in recent years has further exacerbated the risks and vulnerabilities of street vendors. In response to climate change impacts, street vendors adopt adaptive governance practices to practically address issues, particularly in contexts where formal institutions are absent or ineffective. While much literature explores climate change impacts on vulnerable communities, such as informal settlements, there is limited research on how street vendors adapt to these challenges through governance. Methods: This paper draws from survey data and interviews with key stakeholders, including local government officials, street vendors and leaders of the African Traders Organisation in Johannesburg, to examine the role of adaptive informal governance in addressing climate change impacts. Results: Findings reveal a prevalence of climate-related events with varying impacts and micro-level governance practices, including the sourcing of key street vending infrastructure for street vendors, hiring urban managers to ensure business continuity during climate-related events, offering informal social protection such as short-term loans and leveraging digital tools like social media to boost sales amid climate disruptions. Conclusion: The paper highlights the importance of recognizing street vending as a dynamic space of resilience, adaptation and innovation. It shifts the narrative from “informality as vulnerability” to “informality as agency,” while also highlighting the need for multistakeholder collaboration across various scales to achieve impactful climate change adaptation. It offers valuable insights for policymakers to design inclusive, climate-resilient systems that support vulnerable informal workers.