Second, climate change has stark consequences for African farmers. For instance, on the basis of Covid-19 numbers, a recent assessment by the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), shows that of 200,000 small farmers that live in South Africa, COVID has really set them back economically. There is no doubt that in many parts of the continent, climate change is affecting the economic viability of small farmers already struggling with insufficient resources, who have weak resilience to external shocks. Climate risks to farmers can manifest in the form of droughts, spread of pests, floods, lower nutrients and low crop yields. High temperatures can also affect farm productivity as farming is labor intensive and working on farms in a heat wave is not conducive to labor intensity and efficiency. The rise in temperatures has already profoundly affected production cycles, forcing farmers to rethink their harvesting calendars. Changes in climate without proper farm resilience mechanisms can increase the poverty trap of farmers.
To be clear, however, the impact of climate change on the African continent, and on South Africa in particular, will need to be assessed in the long run. In many respects, it is a long-term problem that will not be resolved with a short-term solution. As such, if we want to build resilience at the national level, it is the farmers themselves that will have to develop tools for a more climate-resilient agriculture. The task at hand is immense, and it is certainly made complex by the low levels of government support that small-scale farmers receive in South Africa and in the rest of the continent. The lack of production diversification in these small farms also tragically worsens the situation. At present, farmers will therefore have to work on their own towards changing their production methods and habits.
To actively participate in the global fight against climate change, the South African government will need to overcome the country’s heavy reliance on coal. State-owned utility Eskom’s coal plants were notably responsible for 86% of South Africa’s electricity in 2020, and over 120,000 jobs rely on the coal industry today. What steps and approaches should be taken to best reduce South Africa’s heavy dependence on coal?
At the continental level, the focus has traditionally been on adaptation more than it has been on mitigation. This is normal to a large extent. After all, among the top 30 biggest emitters at the international level, South Africa is the largest emitter, ranked 12th globally ahead of the United Kingdom, even though its economy is eight times smaller. In that respect, South Africa’s recent evaluation of its climate strategy has been highly significant. The country has slowly changed its approach to climate change, by deciding to become more proactive not only in adapting to it, but also in mitigating the risks of climate disasters.
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