Alarm over rising temperatures during KZN winter
A climate and energy expert says temperatures have been steadily rising in KwaZulu-Natal's winters over the past decade.
In July last year, the United Nations declared Earth had entered a global boiling era, leading to more extreme weather.
"On 16 July 2023, it was the hottest day recorded on earth. There are trends that we can see across the world where temperatures are very abnormal, and then extreme weather events are proof of that, and we have a series of these in the Durban region,” says Siya Myeza from Greenpeace Africa.
Myeza explains that the combination of precipitation and temperatures determines the overall outlook on the change of weather patterns.
He says that between 2014 and 2023, average monthly temperatures in KZN increased by between 0.8 and 1.6 degrees Celsius.
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"It has been increasing over time even before 2014, which is really significant, and this is quite evident when you look at temperatures between 2014 and 2023. You see those variations in increasing temperatures specifically in June."
Myeza advocates for sustainable living as the solution to the climate challenge.
"Cutting down on using plastic, walk to work if you can, carpool. I would say we use more public transport, but in our country public transport is deteriorating, but that is another best option to cut on emissions. Pushing for renewable energy, technologies and solutions and push for an agenda that is moving towards energy transfusion."
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