UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2025 The chart above is a clear snapshot of where things stand. Under current policies, the chance of keeping warming below 2°C is very low. Even if countries follow through on existing commitments, the probability only improves to somewhere between about a quarter and a...
A new study in Communications Earth & Environment looks at what would happen if one of the planet’s major ocean circulation systems shuts down. The system is called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC. It moves heat and carbon through the oceans and plays a central role in...
Update - 13 June The world’s major forecasting centres are now largely in agreement that El Niño is underway and is likely to strengthen significantly during the second half of 2026. NOAA has upgraded to an El Niño Advisory, while Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) states that El Niño conditions...
As we move toward winter 2026, there are growing signs in the Pacific Ocean that El Niño conditions will develop later this year. While it’s still early, these signals matter because large-scale climate patterns like El Niño can influence rainfall variability in the Southern Cape, and therefore...
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has released its latest weekly dashboard for the Knysna water system, providing a snapshot of consumption, production, and storage levels as of early March. At first glance the situation appears more stable than it did several weeks ago. Akkerkloof Dam...
We have all seen Waterfront Drive look like this during some high tides. These events often happen when the high tide approaches about 2 metres, especially if a small storm surge is present. It’s easy to dismiss them as an inconvenience caused by an unusually high tide. But in reality, these...
The South African Weather Service has released its seasonal climate outlook for March to July 2026, offering an early look at the atmospheric patterns that could shape the coming months. Seasonal forecasts don’t tell us exactly how much rain will fall in a specific town. Instead, they indicate the...
In the first article, we looked at why regions around 34° South have become less predictable. In the second, we explored why planning systems built for stability now struggle. This final piece is about something more personal. If an unstable climate is becoming normal, how do people live well...
The municipality’s recent communication on Non-Revenue Water (NRW) is welcome. NRW is often misunderstood. It includes: Unbilled authorised use (such as firefighting or communal taps) Metering inaccuracies Illegal connections And real physical losses (bursts and leaks) Reducing NRW is essential....
In the first article of this series, we looked at why regions around 34° South have become climate transition zones. Places where rain still falls, but recovery no longer behaves the way people expect. This raises a hard question. If rain still comes, and plans are followed, why do systems keep...