‘Humanity is living beyond the means provided by Earth’

FOSSIL fuels are being burnt at an abnormal rate, exceeding the available carbon budget to avoid dangerous climate change in the next 15 years.

The water shortage in Cape Town was just one symptom of the enormous challenges, said UCT Pro Vice-Chancellor for climate change and director of the African Climate and Development Initiative Professor Mark New.

He made these comments during his address at a graduation ceremony last week.

New’s global contributions in leading climate research were recognised in March when he was awarded the Piers Sellers Prize for his lifelong contribution.

Humans were using water in various water-stressed areas at unsustainable rates, causing irreversible damage.

New added that humanity was living beyond the means provided by Earth by consuming bio-resources at approximately twice the rate of the Earth’s ability to sustainably replenish them.

New compared the natural resource credit crisis created by society to the financial crisis of 2008/9.

“And perhaps even worse is that most of the benefits, the short-term benefits of this facility, this natural credit facility that we are using, are accruing to a minority; that is, the small percentage of well-off people in global society and in South Africa.”

He said it was crucial for graduands to carefully consider the role they could play in this regard.

“Your studies have given you the knowledge, and perhaps the tools, to be productive in and benefit economically from this creaking system.”

Meanwhile, on Saturday the first silent disco beach clean-up dance party was held at Maiden’s Cove.

The event aimed to draw a line in the sand, as the phasing out of single-use plastic becomes more necessary.

Plastic items were by far the most prolific litter on our beaches and this event aimed to engage people into positive action while at play, New York artist Janine Martel said.

Martel created the “Imagine There’s No Plastic” circle made from used plastic straws, which was placed on the beach to inspire people to rethink and refuse single-use plastics

The work was inspired by the John Lennon Imagine memorial circle located in Central Park, she said.

Over 5 000 straws were collected from the V&A Waterfront’s waste recovery site to create the art. She said families, some of whom had brought along their pets for the clean-up, took just over two hours to clean the beach.

‘Humans are using water in areas at unsustainable rates’