Climate change in South Africa
[1] This is a critical concern for South Africans as climate change will affect the overall status and wellbeing of the country, for example with regards to water resources.
Just like many other parts of the world, climate research showed that the real challenge in South Africa was more related to environmental issues rather than developmental ones.
[4] The various effects of climate change on rural communities are expected to include: drought, depletion of water resources and biodiversity, soil erosion, decreased subsistence economies and cessation of cultural activities.
[19] There has been different confirmations over climate change effects in South Africa with a rapid decrease in rain fall and noticed high temperature levels.
[3] Higher temperatures in South Africa[26] and less rainfall will result in limited water resources and changing soil moisture, leading to decreased cropland productivity.
[29] Maize production, which contributes to a 36% majority of the gross value of South Africa's field crops, has also experienced negative effects due to climate change.
The estimated value of the loss, which takes into consideration scenarios with and without the carbon dioxide fertilization effect,[30] ranges between tens and hundreds of millions of rands.
[34] In this regard, it is important to notice that the national government in South Africa started to implement new tourism and climate based policies to over come the challenges.
[36] There is evidence that climate change will have negative impacts on public health in South Africa, especially due to the high proportion of vulnerable people.
[39] A 2019 survey of literature on adaptation and public health, found that "the volume and quality of research is disappointing, and disproportionate to the threat posed by climate change in South Africa.".
[41] Like all countries which are party to the Paris Agreement South Africa will report its greenhouse gas inventory to the UNFCCC at least biennially from 2024 at the latest.
This strategy also and outlines priority areas for achieving this vision, which includes water resources, agriculture and commercial forestry, health, biodiversity and ecosystems, human settlements, and disaster risk reduction.
[1] This strategy was also developed to act on the country's commitment to its obligations in the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
[46] Popular awareness of these potential impacts increased with the 2018–20 Southern Africa drought, the Cape Town water crisis,[25] and the 2022 KZN floods.
