From collapsing maize yields to a possible cyclone hitting Richards Bay, a Wits expert warns that South Africa’s climate future is fast becoming hotter, drier and more dangerous
Wits and Sanbi have launched fact sheets, helping local governments plan for a climate-stressed SA
Although there is a backup plan in the Sterkfontein Dam, residents need to reduce their water use
National and local governments should adopt and implement heat action plans to guide heatwave preparation and emergency response
Limiting greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience can improve the everyday lives and experiences of South Africans
Chocolate prices set to soar as climate change affects Nestlé’s production
The lengthy period of very high temperatures in November broke monthly records
The bloc’s countries are some of the worst polluters, so they need to take climate seriously
A study says extreme heat in North America, Europe and China in July were made more likely by human-driven climate change
New report warns future heatwaves will lie outside range of human experience
Climate change protesters said the scorching weather should be a wake-up call for the continent
Experts blame climate change for the latest heatwave and note the more frequent extreme weather will only worsen in years to come
Birds living in hot, humid climates have evolved to handle larger spikes in body temperature
Heatwaves need to be assessed in terms of local temperature variability because ‘a smaller absolute extreme may have more harmful effects’
The dangerous effects of climate change are occurring faster and will worsen sooner than previously predicted, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Climate says in its new report
For the first time a study has identified 56 heritage sites on the continent’s coast that are exposed to a one-in-100 year coastal extreme event, flooding and erosion
Though there is no going back and fixing what we have done, we can certainly all take responsibility for our corner of the world to ensure we have a fighting chance
Garrith Jamieson and his paramedic colleagues were on high alert days before a scorching heatwave struck Durban earlier this month. With the mercury expected to soar to 40°C and above, they knew the signs of heat stress to look out for in their patients: fatigue, fainting, headaches, heat cramps and heatstroke, among others. “It was […]
South Africa’s urban areas are urban heat islands and heat waves will intensify the distress
The Climate Justice Charter Movement has critiqued the manifestos of the main parties contesting the local government elections and found them ‘shallow’
Only 16% of losses in South Africa from weather-related disasters in the past four decades were covered by insurers, leaving governments and communities unable to build back
There’s still there hope that COP26 will deliver a powerful pact for action
Global health bodies say climate mitigation efforts should be closely aligned to the health consequences of air pollution and the benefits of reductions
R10-billion in capital investment is needed for prioritised mitigation actions until 2050, as well as an annual operating budget of about R25-billion for the same period
A changing climate threatens to undermine the past 50 years of gains in public health
In a single day, temperatures in northern KwaZulu-Natal climbed to a lethal 45°C, causing a mass die-off of birds and bats
Temperatures being recorded in some parts of South Africa are already close to the limits at which humans can survive
The lack of detailed information on extreme heat impacts hinders disaster response and preparedness.