SOUTH AFRICA CAN’T AFFORD THE COSTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Pass on the facts. Share the image below – then read on for more ⬇

The science is clear, the threat from climate change is growing year on year. For South Africa, the impacts are already devastating. Between 1990 and 2015, human-caused climate change caused almost half of all heat-related deaths in the country.

It’s not just lives at risk – but livelihoods. Unless we take urgent action today, the costs of climate change will tear through South Africa’s economy.

By 2100, heat-related deaths could climb further – 25 times higher than in 1990. And longer heatwaves could push the agriculture sector to the edge – burning up R 2 billion in growth. By 2050, hundreds of thousands more people will be exposed to floods, costing the economy R 14 billion.

If carbon levels remain high, South Africa could be 5% poorer by 2050 – rising to 13.5% by 2100. That’s seven times worse than the 2008 financial crisis.

Ready to learn more about what South Africa can do now? Download our Climate Atlas Report.

We can still stop the worst impacts and save South Africans billions. With fellow global leaders, South Africa can build a cleaner, more sustainable world economy – protecting the economy from climate shocks and creating millions of good jobs at home. But only if governments act now.

Learn more about the threats and opportunities for South Africa. The first and largest study of its kind, our Climate Atlas gathers data on climate impacts from across the G20.

Get the facts, download the Climate Atlas Report now.

View the global climate atlas.

Background image © Kevin Sawyer / Greenpeace