Economic impacts of climate change in south africa. In past analyses of effects of climate change on the south african ecosystems e. The impact of climate change on south africa jenny griffin, south africa original post. Models andor methodologies exist to begin projecting the impacts of climate change on human health in south africa including effects on. Impact of climate change on food security and health in southern africa two of the most important issues impacted on by climate change described above in southern africa are food security and human health. The impacts of climate change on food security and health. South africa may experience water shortages, as one of a variety of impacts which climate change will have on the region.
Wires climate change climate change impacts in south africa box 1 long term adaptation scenarios ltas project south africas 2011 national policy position on climate change emphasizes that socioeconomic risks resulting from a range of emission scenarios need to be better understood and quanti. Seventy seven percent felt that climate change would affect their work in the future, but only 35% acknowledged that climate change was explicitly included as a planning issue by their employing organization, and only 30% were aware of analyses of climate change as a threat. Climate change impacts and adaptation in south africa. While slow progress with mitigation, especially in the energy sector, has garnered much attention, focus is now shifting to. Rome, food and agriculture organization of the united nations. The impacts of climate change on food security and health in. Climate change causes rising sea levels,increased temperatures, great severity of natural disasters but this climate change is having a more severe impact on south africa. Th e paper concludes with recommendations and a suggested way forward. Climate change is a slow, natural cycle that causes the earths temperature to rise and fall periodically over centuries. South africas second national climate change report. Wires climate change climate change impacts in south africa box 1 long term adaptation scenarios ltas project south africa s 2011 national policy position on climate change emphasizes that socioeconomic risks resulting from a range of emission scenarios need to be better understood and quanti. Challenges in modelling climate change impacts on water resources. The impacts on natural, agricultural, humanmade and human capital are addressed using the change in production approachfindings include the following. In addition, climate change has severe consequences on other economic sectors that are either directly or indirectly linked to the agricultural sector.
Pdf on jan 1, 2002, jane turpie and others published economic impacts of climate change in south africa. Climate change will have economic impacts in africa 20 3. In producing aggregate impacts, there are a number of difficulties, such as predicting the ability of societies to adapt climate change, and estimating how future economic and social development will progress smith et al. Climate change, development and energy problems in south africa. Impact of climate change could become serious public health. Framework of southern and northern africa climate change programmes gcf green climate fund. Climate change poses a significant threat to south africas water resources, food security, health and infrastructure. Durand 214 ch c2 wheat production in south africa and climate. Many challenges encountered in climate change modelling are detailed in the literature.
The effects of climate change on africa 1420 words 6 pages. Extreme weather events are the most noticeable effects to date. Importantly, all the impacts of climate change affect mental health, in a. Martin humanities 9 period 15 january 12, 2015 climate change in africa introductionwhat is the impact of climate change in africa. Pdf economic impacts of climate change in south africa. Cigi and the south african institute of international af. Climate change is a major factor impacting upon local economic development futures. Climate change will amplify existing stress on water availability in africa high confidence. Climate change, tourism and local economic development in. Solutions for a changing climate african development bank. The meeting to draft the outline of the sixth assessment report ar6 took place in addis ababa ethiopia from 1 to 5 may 2017. International climate impacts climate change impacts us epa.
Runoff was found to be highly sensitive to changes in precipitation dwaf, 2004, 51. Aggregating impacts adds up the total impact of climate change across sectors andor regions ipcc, 2007a. The effects of global climate change on mental health and wellbeing are integral parts of the overall climate related human health impacts. Within the climate change matrix, water resources are at the epicentre of projected climate change impacts. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the. Durand 214 ch c2 wheat production in south africa and climate change r. Any attempt to understand the impacts of climate change on africa is fraught with diffi culties. Climate change seriously threatens sustainable development, poverty reduction and the achievement of the millennium development goals mdgs, particularly in africa. The map below shows the global distribution of risks associated with main agricultural production systems. One region of the world where the effects of climate change are being felt particularly hard is africa. Dec 12, 2014 right now, the effects of climate change are already being felt by people across africa.
Projections of future temperature and rainfall, and potential impacts of climate change on health. Pdf climate change impacts and adaptation in south africa. The climate change annual report reflects on the progress in undertaking these actions with the aim of recognising ongoing actions, quantifying their impact, catalysing new actions and indicating how these actions contribute to the national imperatives of reducing poverty and inequality, and. The who study only looked at a partial list of health impacts. Related content metaanalysis of climate impacts and uncertainty on crop yields in europe jerry knox, andre daccache, tim hess et al. South africa s response to climate change was presented.
In the context of south africas socioeconomic development and threatened ecosystem, it is of utmost importance that citizens become informed about the effects that climate change is having on the country and its biodiversity. Both have a direct and essential impact on human existence. Water resources are subjected to high hydroclimatic variability over space and time, and are a key constraint on the continents continued economic development. The adverse impacts of climate change are already manifesting themselves on the continent in more frequent occurrences of climate events such as floods, droughts, and heat waves. What changes have south african citizens experienced in their climate and environment over time. Impacts of climate change on food security learners notes 3 agricultural systems will need to cope with new stresses and risks. This article examines issues around climate change impacts for south africas tourism sector and in particular implications for local economic development. Forests, rangelands and climate change in southern africa. South africas response to climate change was presented. Pdf climate change impacts and adaptation in south.
Essay about the impact of climate change on africa bartleby. Although climate change is a natural occurrence, human industrial and development activities over the past two centuries have caused changes in climate independent from natural changes. Evidence shows that the change in temperature has affected the health, livelihoods, food productivity, water availability, and overall security of the african people. The impacts of global changes in climate are rapidly escalating in south africa. While agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, it is also a source of carbon storage in soils. Review methods medline pubmed and web of science were searched on 8 august 2018 supplementary file 1. This affect is seen in the agriculture of south africa and is felt by the less privileged people living in impoverished communities. West africa has been identified as a climatechange hotspot, with climate change likely to lessen crop yields and production, with resultant impacts on food security. Adaptation will bring immediate benefits and reduce the impacts of climate change in africa 23 4.
Climate change and south africas natural 3 resources 3. The southern african region is regarded as one of the most vulnerable regions in africa ipcc, 2007b. Seventy seven percent felt that climate change would affect their work in the future, but only 35% acknowledged that climate change was explicitly included as a planning issue by their employing organization, and only 30% were aware of analyses of climate change as a. Mental health consequences of climate change range from minimal stress and distress symptoms to clinical disorders, such as anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, and suicidal thoughts. Impacts of climate change on water resources in southern. Africa is the smallest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions among the continents, but the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Zambeze river valley vietnam carbon tax in collaboration with nt current collaborative process in south africa to consider climate change impacts and potential adaptation strategies. Since the 2006 saeo, local and global research has advanced its understanding of the projected impacts of climate change. Exploring the impact of climate change on children in.
Pdf given its associated burden of disease, climate change in south africa could be reframed as predominately a health issue, one necessitating an. West africa has been identified as a climate change hotspot, with climate change likely to lessen crop yields and production, with resultant impacts on food security. The fiveyear program explores the impacts of climate change on africa s socioeconomic status and security development within five areas. Dec 06, 2019 the meeting to draft the outline of the sixth assessment report ar6 took place in addis ababa ethiopia from 1 to 5 may 2017.
Climate change impacts in the terrestrial realm climate change is expected to have a significant influence on terrestrial biodiversity at all system levels ecosystem, species and genetic diversity. Because of the lack of economic, development, and institutional capacity, african countries are likely among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change ipcc, 2001. However, the high impact of climate change on southern africa still indicates a potentially serious public health problem, a fact. Data and research on green growth and sustainable development including consumption, innovation, green cities, green energy, green jobs and green transport.
South africa is undertaking significant actions to respond to climate change risks and impacts. Climate change could undermine africas recent development progress 20 3. Adaptation will bring immediate benefits and reduce the. Human intervention, however, has sped up the process and has had catastrophic effects across the globe. Impacts of climate change on health and wellbeing in south africa. Here we present an overview of the impacts of climate change projected for the subsaharan region of the continent. Climate change impacts on crop productivity in africa and south asia to cite this article. All ecosystems and biodiversities are threatened by climate change and its effects are remarkable on all life. However, climate change poses a real risk to these natural assets, as well as to the people who live in this beautiful country.
This study aimed to provide a preliminary desktop estimate of the economic impacts of climate change in south africa, based on the findings of the vulnerability and adaptation study for the south african country study on climate change 1999. Economic impacts of climate change for south africa. Keywords climate change impacts vulnerability subsaharan africa introduction africa has been identi. Wires climate change climate change impacts in south africa that integrates these two sectors is a study of the waterstressed sandveld in the western cape region. South africa has a welldeveloped earth system science research programme that underpins the climate change scenarios. Agricultural impacts the african union regards climate change as a very real threat to the future of the african continent, and one that will specifically threaten african ecological sustainability. Chapter 4 the impact of climate change on south africa. Mar 19, 2019 globally, the response to climate change is gradually gaining momentum as the impacts of climate change unfold. Centre for environmental economics and policy in africa, university of pretoria, pretoria, 78 pp.
The following sections describe some of the possible challenges in modelling the impacts of climate change on water resources in southern africa. The african continent has been identified as particularly vulnerable to the changing climate due to its envisaged low adaptive capacity and vulnerability callaway, 2004. But the persistent needs and wants of the developing. The working group ii contribution to the sixth assessment report will be finalized in 2021. Climate change will exacerbate poverty in africa 21 4. Tourism may be affected due to a loss of habitats and biodiversity, and due to changes in temperature, humidity and malaria risk, and represents the biggest potential economic loss since. Such a shift in south africa, but also beyond the country, may play a key. Food security concerns the available amount of food for a. According to the climate change vulnerability index for 2015, seven of the ten countries.
Our approach has been pragmatic and empirical in the main, but at the same. Water is the one of the most vulnerable resources in south africa, because the countrys rainfall is so unpredictable, and because its climate is so arid. The draft outlines were approved by the panel at the 46th session of the ipcc in montreal in september 2017. Development under climate change analytical work completed for.
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