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NEWS: Coastal wetlands are unable to adapt to the rate of sea-level rise and are constrained by infrastructure

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Wetlands, precious ecosystems that shield coastlines, safeguard drinking water from saltwater contamination, and nourish diverse wildlife, face a dire threat from the accelerating pace of sea-level rise, driven by global warming. Wetlands have historically adapted to rising sea levels by expanding upward and inland. However, predictions indicate that the waterline will soon shift far too rapidly for wetlands to keep pace. Consequently, future decades may witness the tragic loss of these vital wetland ecosystems. Wetlands along coastlines have historically played valuable roles for people and wildlife, but are now facing the threat of sea-level rise. As temperatures rise, sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, and wetlands are unable to keep pace by building upward and migrating inland. This is due to human-induced climate change and the burning of fossil fuels, which has warmed the oceans and melted glaciers. Sea levels are now rising at about 10 millimeters per year, and are
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NEWS: Aging Infrastructure among causes of SA's water woes

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The South African Government said while urbanisation, aging infrastructure and climatization were impacting the country's water supply, universal water provision is still a major problem.


"The world's water crisis is not simply coming, it is here, and climate change will only make it worse," said UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore. "Children are the biggest victims. When wells dry-up, children are the ones missing school to fetch water. When droughts diminish food supplies, children suffer from malnutrition and stunting. When floods hit, children fall ill from waterborne illnesses. And when water resources decline, children cannot wash their hands to fight off diseases."

Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said no matter what progress was being made with water provision, it was always hampered by South Africa's aging infrastructure.

“That has been some kind of an Achilles heel for the country. Even as the bulk continues to grow, the cost of the aging infrastructure, the actual percentages in terms of reliable water supply will always come down.”

But this is not unique to South Africa; worldwide, water scarcity is a major problem.

According to Unicef, more than 1.42 billion people – including 450 million children – live in areas of high or extremely high water vulnerability.

"Children in 37 ‘hotspot’ countries face especially dire circumstances in terms of absolute numbers, the proportions of children affected, and where global resources, support and urgent action must be mobilized. This list includes Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sudan, Tanzania and Yemen," the report noted.

The organisation's Samuel Godfrey, who is based in Nairobi, said while the demand for water continued to increase dramatically, resources were dwindling.

Also read: Why South Africa needs a new water agency

“The experience from Cape Town in South Africa really showed us that if we don’t have adequate water management practices in place, we can reach a ‘day zero’ point.”

Calls have been made to address the water crisis now and prevent the global situation from getting even worse.

In response, Unicef is launching the Water Security for All initiative to ensure every child has access to sustainable and climate-resilient water services.

The initiative aims to mobilise resources, partnerships, innovation and global response to identified hotspots where the need for safe, resilient and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services is the greatest and most urgent.

"We have to act now both to address the water crisis and to prevent it from getting any worse,” said Fore. “We can only achieve water security for every child through innovation, investment and collaboration, and by ensuring services are sustainable and resilient to climate shocks. For our children and our planet, we have to act.”

Source for this hardhatNEWS: EWN


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