Climate Change and the upcoming COP 17 Conference

26.10.11

The rise in the earth’s temperature is becoming of increasing concern. The main contributor to climate change is thought to be greenhouse gasses (GHG), the most popular of these being carbon dioxide (CO₂). Many attempts to stabilize these concentrations in the atmosphere have been made as the increasing human-generated emissions have the potential to change the global climate system.

 What are the impacts of climate change?

 An increase in the global temperature of a few degrees Celsius can have lethal consequences because plants and animals may not have enough time to adapt to the changing environment and may not survive. Scientists predict more extreme weather conditions, such as wetter wet periods, shorter rainy seasons and longer, drier dry periods. South Africa is already classified as a water scarce country meaning that we receive less annual rainfall than other parts of the world. Should the rainfall patterns become more erratic, we could be faced with water shortages in the near future.

 What is COP 17 and what can we do?

 The Conference of the Parties (COP) meets annually to   assess the progress in dealing with climate change. Delegates from countries who implement or observe the Kyoto Protocol are invited to attend this prestigious event where decisions are made on pro-active measures to be    implemented to minimize GHG production. However, the ordinary citizen can also make a difference by making changes in the way we use water and treat the environment around us.

 Water Wise Tips

•  Starting a vegetable garden is a good way to reduce CO₂ emissions resulting from transport and packaging costs. It also minimizes chemical treatment applied to the crops you eat.
• Applying compost to the soil improves its structure, feeds plants, retains water and sequestrates carbon. 
• By reducing your usage of water, you reduce the need to pump and purify additional water which reduces electricity usage and carbon emissions.