IMPAKTE VAN KLIMAATSVERANDERING OP SUID-AFRIKAANSE LANDBOU EN OP DIE VOEDSELSTELSEL

Climate change is projected to increase temperatures in South Africa at double the global average, leading to water scarcity, reduced crop yields for staples like maize and wheat, and increased risks for small-scale farmers and marginalized communities. The document argues that a market-led response will exacerbate inequality and instead advocates for a just transition involving resource redistribution, agro-ecological practices, and a universal basic income grant to build resilience.

• South Africa is projected to warm at twice the global average rate, with temperatures potentially rising by up to 3.5°C over the next 40 years. This will be accompanied by an increase in extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
• Climate change will negatively impact crop yields and cultivation areas. Specifically, maize and wheat yields will be pressured by rising temperatures and decreased water availability, leading to a more concentrated cultivation pattern with higher yields limited to smaller irrigated areas.
• The impacts of climate change are distributed unequally, with small-scale and subsistence farmers being the most vulnerable due to a lack of resources compared to large-scale commercial farmers. Women, children, and the elderly are identified as facing the highest risks.
• Environmental degradation is expected to include soil erosion, deforestation, desertification, and the loss of biodiversity. Grasslands, which serve as the country's largest carbon sinks alongside forests, are of particular concern due to their economic and ecological functions.
• To avoid exacerbating existing inequalities, the document argues for a 'just transition' of the food system. Recommended interventions include the redistribution of land and water, the adoption of agro-ecological practices, the implementation of a universal basic income grant, and specific emission reduction targets for the commercial food system, particularly in livestock, energy, and transport.

APA

Institute for Economic Justice (n.d.). IMPAKTE VAN KLIMAATSVERANDERING OP SUID-AFRIKAANSE LANDBOU EN OP DIE VOEDSELSTELSEL. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-04-AFR-Impacts-of-CC_WEB_fin.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Economic Justice. IMPAKTE VAN KLIMAATSVERANDERING OP SUID-AFRIKAANSE LANDBOU EN OP DIE VOEDSELSTELSEL. n.d. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-04-AFR-Impacts-of-CC_WEB_fin.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Economic Justice |title=IMPAKTE VAN KLIMAATSVERANDERING OP SUID-AFRIKAANSE LANDBOU EN OP DIE VOEDSELSTELSEL |url=https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-04-AFR-Impacts-of-CC_WEB_fin.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforeconomicjusticendimpakte, author = {{Institute for Economic Justice}}, title = {{IMPAKTE VAN KLIMAATSVERANDERING OP SUID-AFRIKAANSE LANDBOU EN OP DIE VOEDSELSTELSEL}}, institution = {Institute for Economic Justice}, url = {https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-04-AFR-Impacts-of-CC_WEB_fin.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }