Climate change is everybody’s problem – what are you doing about it?

What is Climate Change?

Climate change is described as a significant and enduring change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may occur as a change in average weather conditions experienced in a specific region  or the distribution of events (e.g. more or fewer extreme weather events) across the whole Earth.

Nowadays the term climate change is also used to refer specifically to changes in climate caused by human activity. When used in conjunction with environmental policy, the term climate change is synonymous with the term anthropogenic global warming. According to scientific journals, global warming refers to an increase in temperature on the Earth’s surface whereas climate change refers to and includes global warming and everything else that an increase in greenhouse gas emissions will affect. The scientific consensus on climate change is “that climate is changing and that these changes are in large part caused by human activities,” and it “is largely irreversible.”

Climate change in South Africa

How will we experience climate change?

HIGH TEMPERATURES: Studies at UCT predict that temperatures will increase over the whole of South Africa due to climate change. January temperatures are expected to increase by 2.5 – 4.5°C in the central interior and Northern Cape, and by 0.5 – 1.0°C at the coast. As well as average temperature increase, the daily maximum temperatures in summer and autumn in the western part of South Africa are likely to increase. That means more extremely hot days.

WATER RESOURCES: Less rainfall or an increase in evaporation (due to higher temperatures) would further strain the already limited amount of water for agriculture, homes and for industry. In general, summer rainfall will decrease by between 5% in the northern regions and 25% in the eastern and southern Cape. The Western Cape may lose as much as 35% of its current winter rainfall. The east of the country is projected to become wetter, but the distribution of rainfall within the rainfall season (summer) will also change, with the rainfall season beginning later and the annual average falling over fewer days with an increase in extreme events (which has implications for the growing season). The west of the country – the winter rainfall region – will become drier.

GRAZING LIVESTOCK: Higher carbon dioxide will lead to less protein in the grass, which will reduce any benefit resulting from increased plant growth. Less rainfall would lead to proportionately less animal production.

BIODIVERSITY: Plants, in particular, have trouble keeping up with rapid climate change. Small populations of plants could go extinct as a result. Within 50 – 100 years, areas that support Succulent Karoo vegetation today will become so dry that only the hardiest plants will be able to survive. A team of health and climate scientists showed that the growing health impacts of climate change affect different regions in strikingly different ways. Ironically, the places that have contributed the least to warming the Earth are the most vulnerable to the effects (such as disease and death) that higher temperatures can bring.

 Figure 1: The Greenhouse Effect ©IPCC

How much does South Africa contribute to climate change?

South Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions are very high.  It is within the top 20 greenhouse gas emitting countries globally.  This means that it emits well above the developing country average – and more than many developed countries.  This is mainly due to our reliance on coal for electricity.

What can I do to stop it?

There are the day-to-day choices we can all make such as wearing your jeans three times before washing them to save water and electricity, changing to low energy light bulbs and not leaving your electric gadgets on standby.  Switching off your geyser during the day and only using cold water in your washing machine. These will all help.

Solar power and its partners in the renewable energy movement are our best chance of limiting our part in climate change.

Even with its rapid growth, solar power still contributes a small portion of our energy needs.

The best thing anyone can do right now is to reduce their dependence on conventional (non-renewable) energy sources and convert to solar power. We will assist you every step of the way as you step forward into a greener sustainable future.