South Africa is feeling the effects of climate change, from flooding and drought to tornados in Kwa Zulu Natal, extreme weather events are only going to increase in the coming years.
At the same time, South Africa feels far removed from the “glaciers are melting’ climate change that has become a standard talking point within the wider decision around the phenomenon. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a specialised agency within the United Nations, says “glaciers play an integral part in regulating weather patterns, and a providing water, whether it seems that way or not we all live downstream.”
Glaciers, water, and you
Abou Amani, director of the Division of Water Sciences
UNESCO released a report stating that retreating glaciers could threaten the lives of 2 billion people, Abou Amani, director of the Division of Water Sciences and secretary of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, adds, “25% of the Earth’s surface is made of mountains, this provides 60% of the annual freshwater flow, and the unprecedented rates of glacial retreat threaten the global climate as well as the billion people who rely on them as a water source.” Glaciers are not just the large ice blocks floating in the Arctic, but rather any collection of ice and snow that moves. Alpine glaciers are the focus of discussions around climate change.
Amani says, “When we speak about how climate change affects the Earth, we must also discuss how the Earth affects climate change. These alpine glaciers also have an effect on the global climate, regulating temperatures and currents, the disappearance of these glaciers would affect the entire world.”
Importantly, South Africa does rely on glacial water. The Drakensberg region and Lesothu, which supplies water to South Africa, rely on glacial accumulation and melt for their ‘water budget.’ A global increase in temperatures could lead to these systems not providing the water that South Africa relies on worsening droughts and further stressing an already water-scarce region. Rising sea levels also threaten the coasts of South Africa, which are economic hubs and are home to a large portion of the country.
Agriculture
Global food security is at stake, glacial retreat is not a localised problem.
The UNESCO report makes specific warnings about global food production. “We live in a global society, food is not region-dependent and relies on global logistics. The glacial retreat is a direct threat to feeding the people of the planet,” adds Amani. The loss of these natural water producers threatens communities who rely on them for agriculture, and cultural practices. UNESCO posits that the loss of these glaciers would pose a direct threat to livelihoods, and cultures, leading to social harm on top of social harm. While we face the reality of climate change UNESCO says that it is important that there is a global unity to fight climate change. “Preserving our environment as we move to climate-reliant practices and rely on the circular economy, are all ways we can reduce the more severe impact of climate change. It takes the entire planet to change the climate, it will take the entire planet to stop it,” says Amani. As South Africa prepares for its own circular economy, the country must face climate change head-on, understanding that melting glaciers in countries far away, and close to home, impact the entire world.
