SA needs global warming input
2005-10-18 10:58
Johannesburg - Science Minister Mosibudi Mangena has invited the scientific community to advise the government on climate change.
"Policy makers need to understand methods used to quantify the uncertainties of climate change projections. The science community needs to make significant inputs into the policy and strategy development processes," Mangena told a climate change conference at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on Monday.
"In matters concerning a phenomenon as pervasive as climate change, collaboration is vitally important," he added, saying that the planet's climate change was becoming an accepted fact.
"An increasing number of experts in the social, economic, pure and natural sciences are gradually beginning to acknowledge the fact that climate change is not a myth, and that an improved understanding of this phenomenon on our complex country and continent is urgently required.
"Whether we are scientists or not, we all have a sense that climate change is not good for us and our planet; that it is likely to bring with it adverse weather conditions such as floods, droughts, extreme heat or cold; that we might have to face new and frequent disasters.
"At the moment we are not sure whether climate change might bring about new and unknown diseases or new disease patterns, or even lead to the extinction of some species as habitats change drastically.
"The science community has a critical role to play in helping humanity understand this phenomenon, and suggest solutions to the impending changes," Mangena said.
- SAPA