Time to talk about climate change

ROSEBANK – Former US vice-president Al Gore, who is spearheading a global climate change awareness drive, was featured via a Skype call at a function hosted in Rosebank.

He talked about issues specific to Africa and South Africa, touching on key points relating to the global cost of carbon.

Gore encouraged people to talk about the effects of climate change that could potentially wreak havoc on the earth and its inhabitants.

The event was hosted by Miss Earth South Africa and Generation Earth with a view to look into ways to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Pupils from Parktown Girls’ High School and St Andrews School, who attended the function, were encouraged to spread the message about the damaging effects of global warming.

Speakers Ella Bella and Catherine Constantinides pointed out that Africa as a continent would be the hardest hit by global warming due to a lack of sufficient infrastructure. The duo, who are the South African

Climate Reality leaders, said climate change did not only mean more severe storms; but could also lead to more severe droughts, foot shortages, famines, wild fires and an increase in disease.

An employee of the Department of Science and Technology, Randelani Dzhugudzha, said, “As young people I would like to encourage you to be positive… and to bring about solutions to the problems.”

Kevin Nasief of the South African Development Institute of Energy talked about South Africa’s intention to reduce carbon emission by 34 percent in 2025. According to Nasief, the solutions to climate change existed but they were too expensive to implement. Nasief encouraged people to change their behaviour towards the environment by minimising waste.