Empowering communities to cope with climate change

Local communities need to be part of the process of better understanding climate change adaptation. Moreover, supporting small green economies could assist in job creation for the community. An enviromental project in Eldorado Park is seeking to do just this

- Siyanda Sishuba

In South Africa, the effects of climate change are particularly severe due to the country’s geographic location and high levels of poverty and inequality.

South Africa is already experiencing a range of rising temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, and more frequent and extreme weather events. Over the past century, temperatures in South Africa have risen by around 1,5°C. This leads to increased water stress, more frequent wildfires, and reduced agricultural productivity.

The UN’s Emissions Gap Report assesses the gap between anticipated emissions in 2030 and levels consistent with the 1,5°C and 2°C targets set by the Paris Agreement. Every year, the report features ways to bridge the gap.

According to the 2022 Emissions Gap Report, the climate change crisis calls for rapid transformation of societies, and only an urgent system-wide transformation can avoid climate disaster

Urban areas are not unaffected. For example, there is the problem of landfills on the border of communities such as Devland, Freedom Park, and Eldorado Park in Gauteng and elsewhere.

Although the landfills might help to keep communities clean, they are being filled with more and more waste. This leads to odours, smoke, fire, noise, pests and groundwater contamination. Worse, as the organic mass in landfills decomposes, methane gas is released, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

A practical understanding of the impact of climate change can help communities to better deal with climate adaptation.