South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed concern about the repercussions of climate change, particularly in areas of the country that are now experiencing severe and destructive natural disasters.
"Climate change is affecting weather conditions and causing disasters that lead to fatalities, displacement, and infrastructure damage. We must ensure that we build the capacity needed to manage disasters effectively in the long run. The Government must always be there to support and defend our people during such catastrophes," he wrote on X.
In the abovementioned provinces, dozens of people were killed, and severe damage to infrastructure was reported.
The World Meteorological Organization reported last September that although the continent's contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is minimal, it is experiencing a disproportionate impact from climate change. This is causing detrimental effects on food security, ecosystems, and economies, exacerbating displacement and migration, and intensifying the risk of conflict over depleting resources.
Furthermore, research commissioned by the UN Environment Programme suggested that the annual cost of adapting to climate change in Africa might amount to $50 billion by 2050, assuming that the global temperature rise is limited to 2°C above preindustrial levels.