(Article courtesy of ClimateAfrica)
Scientists have developed a number of risk scenarios for various atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. E
ven the most optimistic of these provide dire warnings; without significant reduction in emissions during the next 20-30 years catastrophic climate change is very likely. It is vital that individuals, businesses and countries take responsibility for their emissions and do everything in their power to reduce and manage them. The effects of climate change The extent of change predicted by climate models is uncertain, but known effects will include:
Irreversible loss of many animal and plant species.
Sea level rises with many dangerous results (such as submersion of low lying land masses like the Maldives and salt-contaminated fresh water supplies).
Drought and flooding that will negatively impact water supplies and agriculture.
Water scarcity for communities that depend on glaciers (which are already melting rapidly in many parts of the world).
Climate change, whilst largely created in the developed world, poses the greatest risk to those in the developing world who have fewer resources for adapting to the global warming problem.
How will the poorest people on the planet deal with storms, floods, droughts and disease outbreaks?
Furthermore, the problems faced by the developing world will not be limited to national borders. The developed world increasingly depends on developing nations for minerals and agricultural products. Scarcity of resources risks war and mass population migration. Climate change is an international problem and not just a regional and local one.
d Heritage Route (Route 66) is an exciting community tourism development project of uThungulu and Zululand District Municipalities in partnership with Tourism KZN. ETC-Africa have been recruited as consultants to drive the project forward and provide direction in terms of marketing, product development, community development and SMME development along the route.
