Our new reality

WE NEED URGENT CLIMATE ACTION

Our planet is in crisis due to insufficient and slow action on climate change. From the poles to the tropics, every part of our world is feeling the impact. Water supplies are shrinking, extreme weather events are increasing, forests are burning, and coral reefs are dying.

In 2023, we experienced record-breaking weather events on our doorstep. Temperatures reached a record-breaking high of 46.7°C in November at Augrabies in the Northern Cape and devastating storms resulted in the wettest March and September on record in Cape Town.

Globally, 2023 was the hottest year on record, and 2024 is on track to break that record. These are records we don’t want to break.

Yes, especially if the action is both urgent and ambitious! In July 2024, the Presidential Climate Commission released its first-ever State of Climate Action in South Africa report, an overview of where our country stands in relation to climate action. The report highlights that South Africa’s implementation is falling short of the national targets. The following are our key priorities:

Active citizenry: We must empower citizens with knowledge and tools for active participation in the climate space.
Just transition: We must accelerate the shift to renewable energy sources like wind and solar, while ensuring energy access for all and not leaving behind communities whose livelihoods depend on fossil fuels.
Transform transport: We must decarbonise transport by increasing public transportation, walking, and cycling while creating affordable and accessible public transportation for low-income households.
Climate resilience: We must prioritise vulnerable communities by improving housing, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, and supporting local food systems while upgrading infrastructure and seeking nature-based solutions.
Whole of society: We need everyone doing everything they can to move us in the right direction (government, business, labour and civil society).