Expert warns about climate change effect in SA
The South African Medical Association is warning the country to prepare itself for the likelihood of floods, droughts and heat-waves because of climate change.
The association feels the situation will be worse in provinces like KwaZulu-Natal that have already been declared disaster areas due to the current drought conditions.
It suggests a rise in temperatures could see an increase in water and tick-borne diseases prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr Mzukisi Grootboom says the best way to combat the threat is to reduce the country's carbon footprint.
"We need to just make sure that as individuals we stop burning those things that are going to emit a lot of carbon dioxide - the burning of fossil fuels.
"We're talking about coal in this instance. That has also got an effect in terms of carbon dioxide emissions and the unintended consequence of that is increasing climate change that we've seen," he said.
(File photo)