Why is South Africa’s preparation for disasters, triggered by natural hazards, less than desirable?
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GUEST – Dr Moses Khangale, Disaster Risk Management expert and Manager for Stakeholder Programmes at Santam
The International Day of Disaster Reduction on 13 October is a day set aside by the United Nations to “celebrate how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.” While disasters are not new, they are, however, becoming more frequent and intense. This is exacerbated by climate change, with South Africa especially vulnerable. In 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report identified the SADC region as one of the globe’s climate change hotspots.
Already naturally dry and warm, due to climate change, temperature is expected to increase with devastating effect for water availability, veldfire and drought risks amongst other. The IPCC Report has identified that the single biggest climate change risk that South Africa may have to face in the near term (2021–2040), is one or more ‘day zero’ droughts occurring in the Gauteng Province.
The International Day of Disaster Reduction on 13 October is a day set aside by the United Nations to “celebrate how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.” While disasters are not new, they are, however, becoming more frequent and intense. This is exacerbated by climate change, with South Africa especially vulnerable. In 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report identified the SADC region as one of the globe’s climate change hotspots.
Already naturally dry and warm, due to climate change, temperature is expected to increase with devastating effect for water availability, veldfire and drought risks amongst other. The IPCC Report has identified that the single biggest climate change risk that South Africa may have to face in the near term (2021–2040), is one or more ‘day zero’ droughts occurring in the Gauteng Province.
