ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
25
A change is as good as
a holiday – or is it?
South Africa faces major changes to its climate. This is evident in the Western Cape in
particular, but other provinces are in dire need of water, too, like the Free State, Eastern
Cape, North West Province, Limpopo, and the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Andy Camphausen
According to local researchers, our annual
temperatures have increased by at least 1.5 times
more than the global average in the past 50 years,
and the trend is likely to continue. Climate change
poses a significant threat to our water resources,
food security, health, and infrastructure, among
others. In a country where many people live from
hand to mouth every day and where distinct
differences in equality still exist, these effects
of climate change are critical challenges to
the development of our young and democratic
economy.
According to some UN agencies, more than 97% of
the planet’s water is salty. According to the FAO — the
UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation — globally,
rain, groundwater and surface water together equals 43
trillion m 3 . It takes around 2000–4000 litres per person
per day to produce food and enough water for drinking.
This all looks great, but is it?
About 60% of the globe’s freshwater reserves are locked
in the Antarctic. Of the rest, more than a quarter is
located in Central and Latin America.
What we can assume from these facts is that the
global water crisis is one of governance. We need a
plan of action to combat this in our country. All of us
can contribute. We are all in the water game and it is
everyone’s responsibility. We can leave the country
for greener pastures, but the world is becoming
overpopulated and the drive to build housing for our
people is becoming more and more difficult. So those
greener pastures may just become greyed from climate
change in the country you choose.
We are all here now, so why not take the plunge and
assist with the plight of doing our jobs differently, but still
being responsible in the same breath?
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
By
Here are some ideas as to where we can assist,
whatever your expertise:
• If the climate becomes drier, the land use that
seriously affects water catchments, such as misuse
of wetland areas, changing the course of rivers, will
place greater demands on water resources. Can we
not improve this by inventing or assisting in this area?
• Most people live in cities in South Africa, which
is rumoured to rise to 75% urban population by
2050. As most cities are in excess of 100 years
old, infrastructure — be it civil or mechanical — is
ageing, broken, or maybe beyond repair. Can we
assist municipalities with their challenges?
• The risk of health-related diseases becomes an
everyday reality when things either dry up or are
over-watered like in the case of flooding. Either
situation has dire consequences on health. Could
we assist in ensuring that municipalities are using
forward planning to eradicate health-related
challenges?
• Can we drive the assistance of many water-related
programmes, be it the government or private
society, to be the leaders of water-saving ideas —
living, eating, and breathing it, 24/7?
According to a recent survey, all cities and municipalities
say investment is critical if adaption strategies are to
be successful. As we are leaders in the water space,
leadership and management can be identified as critical
skills needed to protect urban and rural citizens alike
against the threats of climate change in our country that
we like to call home. PA
A dramatic visual of the
ultimate effect that climate
change can have on earth —
no matter where you go to.
What we can
assume from
the facts is that
the global water
crisis is one of
governance.
April 2018 Volume 24 I Number 2