Cut carbon-based fuel, or else
2003-11-20 09:15
Theuns van der Westhuizen
Cape Town - Weather patterns are going to change and South Africa is going to be hit by more storms.
Agricultural production will change and malaria will spread to the North West and the Northern Cape.
Dr Chippy Olver, director general of environmental affairs and tourism said predictions about air pollution is particularly scary.
All these theories form part of predictions about the staggering changes awaiting South Africa and the rest of the world if urgent measures aren't taken to limit the use of carbon-based fuels and the production of carbon monoxide at a conference about urban energy strategies.
South Africa is about to accept a strategy to limit climate changes. Cabinet on Wednesday discussed this, as well as a concept policy about renewable energy sources.
The government will also soon write a law to limit the production of carbon monoxide.
Olver says South Africa is in a difficult position because more than 95% of electricity is generated by coal-fired power stations and proportionally it's one of the biggest energy-intensive countries in the world.
"We are also a developing country, where more than 50% of households do not have access to electricity.
The alternatives are limited. Virtually all the hydro-electricity sources in the country have been developed, natural gas resources are limited, nuclear power produce radio-active waste and the costs of other energy sources are high.
If all households in the country use solar-power to heat up water, enough energy would be saved to close down two coal-fired power stations such as those at Hendrina.
Olver says climate changes are possibly the biggest environmental issue of the century. It not only about the greenhouse effect, but also about the disruption of weather patterns.
The degeneration is taking place gradually, but the consequences on bio-diversity are serious, he said.
About 55% of trees found at present will be out of kilter with the climate conditions within 50 years and species compositions will change. Trees will be found in grasslands and agricultural production will change. South Africa's maize production will decrease by 20%.
South Africa will lose its markets for coal and related products as the rest of the world adjusts its energy needs, Olver said.