How Did The Government Respond To Flooding In South Africa
Heavy rains, flooding, and consequent mudslides struck the South African KwaZulu-Natal coast in April 2022. Hundreds of lives have been lost, and many more are still unaccounted for, even though efforts are being made to determine the extent of the devastation. Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, expressed his perspective on what led to the nation’s biggest natural disaster on record when he visited the disaster-stricken districts near the city of Durban: “We can no longer put off what we need to do — we must deal with climate change.”
Not everyone suffered the disaster’s effects equally. Since South Africa is the most unequal nation in the world, the effects of the extreme weather were most acute there. This effect depicts the cries of numerous poor communities are the ones that contribute the least to global pollution but suffer the most.
Governmental actions
In order to assist individuals affected by the floods, Ramaphosa proclaimed a national state of calamity and set aside $67 million. According to the Associated Press, 10,000 members of the South African military have been sent to assist with search and rescue operations as well as to supply food, drink, and clothing to flood victims.
Which steps are being taken.
Disasters like this can jolt a nation’s conscience and heighten the need for action. Given the country’s unique history, South Africans are a people of civil action. Following the disaster, thousands of volunteers are helping with relief operations, while groups for climate justice are urging the government to take effective action
to solve the global warming challenge. Considering that the nation’s government is presently debating a Climate Change Bill, these public appeals are not going unheard.
climate change legislation
If passed, this law will require all local and provincial governments to conduct climate change needs assessments and develop implementation plans for their climate change responses. The next phase is to include these climate change response plans into all current social development programs.
The bill specifies the nation’s adaptation goals. These goals are particular environmental aims that the government must accomplish within limited times. The measure also establishes sectoral carbon budgets and carbon fees for big polluters.
