Cold snap in SA - Dr Deon Terblanche, Dr Peter Johnston share thoughts

To discuss the cold front that has made landfall in the country is Dr Deon Terblanche, World Bank Weather and Climate Science Expert Consultant and Dr Peter Johnston, UCT Climate Scientist
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[@CitiesForTheFuture2030]

Gov is doing very little to help people. It's the NGP Gift of the Givers that keeps stepping in to help. Gov officials are safe in their fancy houses; the plight of the everyperson is not a priority in SA.
There is a difference between weather & climate. Weather is the day to day weather conditions experienced in a particular place & time. Climate is the general characteristic weather conditions experienced by a particular place eg hot & dry summers, cold & wet winters, how much rain usually falls and what temp extreme ranges usually experienced etc. When considering climate change scientists look at changing trends over longer periods, usually around 10 years.
BTW, you did not discuss the influence of ENSO & other regional weather variations on extreme weather in SA. El Nino usually means drier / drought conditions, and La Nina means cooler & wetter conditions in SA. CC is also affecting the intensity, frequency & duration of these weather phenomena.
Climate change is like having a underlying heart condition that makes any & every illness contracted more dangerous & life threatening.
One of the challenges in the northern hemisphere is the impact of cc on the jet stream. This is less of an issue in the southern hemisphere. Otoh, bad urban planning & social challenges makes even "normal" adverse weather conditions problematic, let alone the additional effects of climate change.
BTW, the most dangerous weather phenomenon are heatwaves. Heatwaves impact young children (including during pregnancy), the elderly, those with medical conditions, vulnerable communities (eg homeless, those living in temp housing & shacks, and those working outside, eg farm workers etc). SA cities doing very little to mitigate the urban heat island effect. This is going to affect critical sectors such as education & healthcare.
CC already affecting water & food security in SA.
SA has signed several international agreements to improve the quality of life for all SAs
- Agenda 2030 & 17 SDGs
- the New Urban Agenda
- Sendai Framework for Hazard Risk Reduction
Very little progress on any of these!

[@DeedsDeeds-rk3ug]

Huh

[@kevinpalmer8107]

Fall out from bombs??K's mother.

[@malcolmcerfonteyn1248]

What rubbish!

[@ChaniKynes-xc8qi]

Rubbish us between your ears. Climate change is reality and settled science, Malcolm.