Extreme weather conditions are becoming more prevalent and severe in South African cities and towns, resulting in severe weather events, such as heavy rainfalls, which, in turn, result in floods that pose serious consequences for communities and ecosystems.
On Friday, 22 April 2022, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) hosted a virtual media briefing to share insights on the effects of climate change and heavy rainfall. The briefing aims to share research on the impact of climate change and urbanisation on South African cities and towns, as well as provide insights on the vulnerability of informal settlements during extreme rainfall and their regularisation.
Dr Asmerom Beraki shared the climate change data and its impact on society and Dr Mark Napier, who is an architect by profession, will explore challenges faced by informal settlements and provide scientific solutions.
CSIR principal researcher Willemien van Niekerk unpacked unpack more details regarding the Green Book and its role in assisting municipalities to address climate change impacts and vulnerabilities in human settlements in South Africa. The Green Book forecasts to the year 2050 by projecting human settlement growth, combined with quantitative scientific evidence of the likely impacts that climate change will have on South African towns and cities.
