South Africa Joins Global Early-Warning System for Climate Crisis

South Africa is taking a significant step in combating the climate crisis by joining the United Nations' Early Warning for All (EW4A) system, set to be completed by 2027. This initiative aims to develop advanced early-warning systems for extreme weather events, addressing the urgent need for effective climate resilience measures.

The country has already faced severe weather events, including deadly floods and storms in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape. In response, South Africa is working to ensure that every citizen, including those in rural areas, receives timely alerts about dangerous weather conditions. This move is expected to significantly reduce fatalities and damage caused by extreme weather.

Deputy Environment Minister Bernice Swarts has launched a workshop which started on the 26 August 2024 focusing on the early-warning system. This initiative aims to ensure that every South African, including those in rural areas, can receive timely alerts about dangerous weather conditions. The goal is to reduce fatalities and damage by preparing communities in advance.

Currently, South Africa provides weather warnings such as 1,509 impact-based forecasting warnings and approximately 703 arrow-drawn warnings. However, the new system will enhance these capabilities, ensuring that early warnings are communicated effectively to all areas, including remote and underserved regions.

The workshop involves key stakeholders including local and national government officials, network providers, and emergency services. Their collaboration is crucial for ensuring that communication networks are robust and capable of disseminating early warnings promptly. This will help ensure that even those in the most isolated areas receive crucial alerts about impending severe weather.

Photo: Deputy Minister Swarts

In addition to these efforts, a national roadshow is planned for 2025 to further educate the public about the early-warning system. The local government, which plays a vital role in disaster management, rescue operations, and fire rescues, will be instrumental in this initiative.

The UN is actively supporting developing countries in implementing early-warning systems, with recent declarations by the Presidents of Rwanda and with Mozambique set to make a declaration to this innitiative, reflecting a growing commitment to this global effort to improving climate resilience.

Deputy Minister Swarts expressed optimism about the workshop’s outcomes, emphasizing that the early-warning system will significantly improve South Africa's ability to manage and respond to extreme weather events. This initiative underscores South Africa's commitment to enhancing climate resilience and safeguarding lives and livelihoods amid the ongoing climate crisis.