Water sector must prepare to respond to climate change

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According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human influence has been identified as a significant factor responsible for the warming of the atmosphere and ocean, changes in the global water cycle, a reduction in snow and ice, global mean sea level rise and changes in climate extremes. Evidence shows increased warming over land regions across Africa, consistent with anthropogenic climate change.

Decadal analyses of temperatures strongly point to an increased warming trend across the continent over the last 50 to 100 years. By the end of this century, mean annual temperature increase across Africa is likely to exceed 2°C, relative to the late 20th century mean annual temperature, whereas warming projections under medium scenarios indicate that by the last two decades of this century extensive areas of Africa will experience temperature increases which exceed 2°C.

Extreme climatic events

This will also be characterised by increased occurrence of extreme climatic events (floods, droughts, landslides, heatwaves, wildfires, etc.), which come with negative implications for infrastructure, health, production and economic growth sectors. All of these negatively influence development affecting water quality and health, coastal zone management, water supply, groundwater recharge and the energy-water nexus, amongst others.

Dr Brilliant Petja, research manager at the WRC, says the WRC - through its Climate Change Lighthouse - provides support to the country and the water sector's response to changing climate through a coordinated focus on adaptive capacity, resilience, improvement of early warning systems, reducing vulnerability and improving the ability to respond coupled with proactive planning.

These efforts incorporate research and practise through mainstreaming and site-specific responses, adaptive management, and local-scale planning to incorporate climate-resilient approaches and continual characterisation of the climate system while bridging the science policy interface.

Meaningful action

Building on the work of the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, it is expected that the 2015 Paris global climate agreement will provide an opportunity for countries to ensure meaningful action on climate change. This will go a long way in supporting a climate-resilient economy while enhancing stabilisation of greenhouse gases through coordinated mitigation efforts.

The parties should negotiate to establish a legal instrument that will support attainment of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.