Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
What is the current status and impact of climate change on the Western Cape based on available research?
Preface
The science of human caused climate change is unequivocal[1]. This is recognised by the Western Cape Government through the cabinet approved Western Cape Climate Change Response Strategy 2014. Climate change impacts are already evident in the Western Cape and are negatively impacting and undermining economic and social development. The impacts, however, cover all sectors and require substantial ongoing monitoring. My Department’s Climate Change Directorate has thus provided a brief snapshot sample of recent evident impacts.
Observed changes
The average global temperature has already increased by 0.8 °C and we are projected to reach a 4 °C global average warming by 2100 according to our current global Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Experts have set a safe limit of 1.5 °C with an upper limit of 2.0 °C. It is important to note that whilst globally there has been an average increase of 0.8 °C, this varies across the globe. Africa is warming faster than the global average which will have severe impacts for hard-won development gains across an already vulnerable continent.
The following are some recent observed trends in the Western Cape:
|
Climate Variable |
Observed trends |
Outlook and Comments |
[1] The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its 5th global assessment report in 2013, and states “warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over dates to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, sea level has risen, and the concentrations of greenhouse gasses have increased”.
