SA govt needs to wake up to climate change

[dArKeR]

Cape Town

06 May 2004 13:54

A leading climatologist has warned that the government should take a long-term view of changing climate conditions, or face potential consequences that could "seriously compound" the existing challenges facing South Africa.

"We are still building society around what is considered to be normal climate, in for example water usage and infrastructure. But we increasingly need to take the changing characteristics of climate into consideration," said professor Bruce Hewitson of the University of Cape Town's environmental and geographical science department on Thursday.

Using tangible examples of the effects in the change in frequency and intensity when experiencing local climatic change, Hewitson said some parts of the interior were getting drier, while some parts such as the KwaZulu-Natal coastline were getting wetter.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=65918