Publication
George Herald
Published: 8 July 2026
The George Herald covered the 2026 Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) Climate Change and Environmental Management Summit, an event that brought together scientists, government officials, environmental practitioners and community leaders to discuss the latest climate science and its implications for the Garden Route and Western Cape.
Dr Ongama Mtinka (NMU), Rienette Colesky (Gamtoos Water Association), Dr Arne Witt (Cabi), Prof Joshua Louw (NMU), Peter du Toit and Gerhard Otto (GRDM Disaster Management)
During du Toit's presentation, he examined the current state of the global climate using the latest observations and international scientific assessments. The discussion explored how continued increases in greenhouse gas concentrations are driving Earth’s energy imbalance, leading to record ocean heat, rising global temperatures, accelerating sea-level rise and increasing risks to natural and human systems. Particular attention was given to how these global changes influence regional weather patterns and contribute to the growing likelihood of extreme weather events affecting Southern Africa.
The presentation also explored the latest understanding of climate indicators, including greenhouse gas concentrations, global temperature trends, and ocean heat content. These indicators provide an integrated picture of a rapidly changing climate and help explain why communities are experiencing more frequent and more damaging climate-related hazards.
A key theme was the importance of understanding climate risk within a local context. The Garden Route is particularly vulnerable to drought, flooding, wildfires, coastal hazards and pressures on water resources. Strengthening resilience requires combining the best available climate science with effective disaster risk reduction, long-term planning and practical adaptation measures that help communities prepare for future conditions rather than simply respond to disasters after they occur.
The summit also highlighted the value of collaboration between scientists, municipalities, disaster management agencies and environmental organisations. By improving access to reliable scientific information and supporting evidence-based decision-making, these partnerships can help build more resilient communities and reduce the impacts of future climate-related disasters.
The event reinforced an important message: while climate risks continue to grow, informed planning, early warning systems, resilient infrastructure and science-based adaptation provide practical pathways for reducing vulnerability and protecting communities across the Garden Route and the Western Cape.
This summary is provided for informational purposes. Copyright remains with the original publisher.