“This is an important contribution to enhancing scientific understanding on climate change on the impacts, adaptation and vulnerability that must inform international policy in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP27 in Egypt in November 2022,” the minister said.
The assessment report, which was released on Monday, is the second in a series of reports to be adopted under the IPCC sixth assessment cycle. In March, the IPCC will release the next reports on dealing with mitigation of climate change, and finally, a synthesis report of the key findings of all three reports will be released later in the year.
“The scientific evidence is unequivocal. Climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss the brief, rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future,” Creecy said.
The report highlights and analyses information available, including a chapter on the African continent, further emphasising the vulnerability of all countries on the continent and the urgency of developing and implementing adaptation measures across the continent and in multiple sectors.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said African countries have already experienced widespread loss and damage as a result of human-induced climate change.
“Southern Africa is no different and is already facing loss of lives and impacts on human health, reduced economic growth, water shortages, reduced food production, biodiversity loss and adverse impacts on human settlements and infrastructure.
“The report makes clear that our development pathways must become more climate resilient - and that choices we make as a society now are critical. With increasing global warming, losses and damages will increase, and additional human and natural systems will reach adaptation limits,” the department said.
The report also emphasised that those most impacted by climate change are poorer communities.
“This means that equitable access to sustainable development is essential in our response to climate change. The IPCC report finds that climate change will increasingly undermine food security.
“At 2°C warming by 2050, people in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central and South America and on small islands are likely to experience food shortages, leading to malnutrition. This means that the ability to adapt and develop in a climate resilient manner is critical, for example, through adopting stress-tolerant crops and livestock, diversification on farms,” the department said.
The minister said South Africa’s response to climate change will be one of inclusive, equitable, climate compatible development as espoused in the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.
“In this regard, we will continue to work together with the Climate Commission to identify pathways for a Just Transition to a low carbon economy and climate resilient society by mid-century ...” Creecy said.
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