Publication
George Herald
Published 3 July 2025
The George Herald covered a presentation by Peter du Toit at the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) Climate Change and Environmental Management Indaba, held at Nelson Mandela University in George, where he examined the current state of the global climate using the latest scientific observations and international assessments.
The presentation explained how increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, are intensifying Earth’s energy imbalance by trapping more heat within the climate system. While the atmosphere is warming rapidly, more than 90% of this excess heat is being absorbed by the oceans, making ocean heat content one of the clearest indicators of ongoing climate change. The discussion explored how this stored heat continues to influence weather patterns for decades, contributes to glacier and ice sheet melt, and drives long-term sea-level rise.
A significant focus was the relationship between a warming climate and the increasing risk of extreme weather events. Using recent examples from South Africa and around the world, the presentation highlighted how rising temperatures increase the likelihood and severity of floods, heatwaves, droughts and wildfire conditions. Particular attention was given to the implications for the Garden Route, where coastal communities, water security, ecosystems and critical infrastructure face growing climate-related risks.
The presentation also examined the Paris Agreement temperature goals and the latest global observations showing that recent years have reached record levels of warming. While temporary exceedances of 1.5°C do not in themselves constitute a permanent breach of the Paris Agreement, the scientific evidence shows that the world is moving closer to sustained warming beyond this threshold unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced rapidly.
The article concludes by highlighting the importance of the Garden Route District Municipality’s Climate Change Adaptation Response Implementation Plan, recognising it as an example of how local governments can strengthen resilience through science-based planning, adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
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