South African Climate Action Network

Our knowledge of the climate system has dramatically improved in the six years since the Third Assessment Report. The report concluded that climate change is already having extensive impacts on the natural world and notable effects on human societies. Considerable progress has been made at predicting the regional impacts of climate change. The report notes that Africa - the poorest continent - will be hardest hit. In particular, climate change is likely to have disproportionately damaging impact on Sub-Saharan Africa as this region already experiences water shortages. 

The IPCC report concludes that climate change could radically alter the prospects for growth and development in Africa.

Climate change is likely to result in a drain on the economy because of:
• Increased sickness among the population
• Damage to transportation infrastructure
• Reduction in productive land and available water
• Shifting land-use practices
• Loss of homes – more environmental refugees
• Loss of biodiversity and reduced tourism