Ramaphosa warns climate change could hamper growth

President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that the effects of climate change have the potential to hamper growth and development.

This announcement follows the recent floods that ravaged Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

He virtually addressed the special session of the Presidential Climate Commission earlier this morning.

Ramaphosa said the country needs to act with others across the globe to ensure that it does not breach the one point five degrees Celsius warming above pre-industrial levels.

He says if nothing is done, this could undermine the country’s growth prospects.

“South Africa is already experiencing the effects of climate change, and these are predicted to increase rapidly as we approach the end of this decade and beyond. This could significantly impede our growth and our collective prosperity. It is likely to undermine our efforts to address inequality, poverty and unemployment. Addressing climate change must therefore go hand in hand with improving living conditions for all our people.”