Quantification of climate change for the last 20,000years from Wonderkrater, South Africa: Implications for the long-term dynamics of the Intertropical Convergence Zone

Abstract. Petrographic features, mineralogy, and stable isotopes from two stalagmites, ANJB-2 and MAJ-5, respectively from Anjohibe and Anjokipoty caves, allow distinction of three intervals of the Holocene in NW Madagascar. The Malagasy early Holocene (between ca. 9.8 and 7.8 ka) and late Holocene (after ca. 1.6 ka) intervals (MEHI and MLHI, respectively) record evidence of stalagmite deposition. The Malagasy middle Holocene interval (MMHI, between ca. 7.8 and 1.6 ka) is marked by a depositional hiatus of ca. 6500 years. Deposition of these stalagmites indicates that the two caves were sufficiently supplied with water to allow stalagmite formation. This suggests that the MEHI and MLHI intervals may have been comparatively wet in NW Madagascar. In contrast, the long-term depositional hiatus during the MMHI implies it was relatively drier than the MEHI and the MLHI. The alternating wet–dry–wet conditions during the Holocene may have been linked to the long-term migrations of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). When the ITCZ's mean position is farther south, NW Madagascar experiences wetter conditions, such as during the MEHI and MLHI, and when it moves north, NW Madagascar climate becomes drier, such as during the MMHI. A similar wet–dry–wet succession during the Holocene has been reported in neighboring locations, such as southeastern Africa. Beyond these three subdivisions, the records also suggest wet conditions around the cold 8.2 ka event, suggesting a causal relationship. However, additional Southern Hemisphere high-resolution data will be needed to confirm this.

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Response of the Intertropical Convergence Zone to Climate Change: Location, Width, and Strength

Current Climate Change Reports ◽

10.1007/s40641-018-0110-5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 355-370 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Michael P. Byrne ◽

Angeline G. Pendergrass ◽

Anita D. Rapp ◽

Kyle R. Wodzicki

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Intertropical Convergence Zone ◽

Convergence Zone

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ENSO Drove 2500-Year Collapse of Eastern Pacific Coral Reefs

Science ◽

10.1126/science.1221168 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 337 (6090) ◽

pp. 81-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 92

Author(s):

Lauren T. Toth ◽

Richard B. Aronson ◽

Steven V. Vollmer ◽

Jennifer W. Hobbs ◽

Dunia H. Urrego ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Coral Reef ◽

Global Climate Change ◽

Southern Oscillation ◽

Global Climate ◽

Intertropical Convergence Zone ◽

Eastern Pacific ◽

Convergence Zone ◽

Reef Growth ◽

Tropical Eastern Pacific

Cores of coral reef frameworks along an upwelling gradient in Panamá show that reef ecosystems in the tropical eastern Pacific collapsed for 2500 years, representing as much as 40% of their history, beginning about 4000 years ago. The principal cause of this millennial-scale hiatus in reef growth was increased variability of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and its coupling with the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The hiatus was a Pacific-wide phenomenon with an underlying climatology similar to probable scenarios for the next century. Global climate change is probably driving eastern Pacific reefs toward another regional collapse.

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Analysis of the BRICS countries’ pathways towards a low-carbon environment

BRICS Journal of Economics ◽

10.38050/2712-7508-2021-4-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 77-102

Author(s):

Agyemang Sampene ◽

Cai Li ◽

Fredrick Agyeman ◽

Robert Brenya

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Electricity Markets ◽

Global Climate ◽

Human Society ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Brics Countries ◽

Nationally Determined Contributions ◽

Low Carbon Technologies

Global climate change has emerged as humanity’s greatest challenge, affecting both the natural security of the earth and the long-term growth of human society. Protecting the environment and fostering long-term growth while reducing carbon emissions has become a global concern. The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) are participating in the fight against climate change through the promotion of low-carbon environment (LCE). In this study, we use content analysis to discuss some of the policies, plans, and programs outlined by the various governments in the BRICS that can help them implement an LCE. The study indicates that currently Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are rated as “insufficient,” “critically insufficient,” “compatible,” “incompatible,” and “highly insufficient” respectively in their commitment to nationally determined contributions (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. The paper recommends that the BRICS countries achieve an LCE through expanding low-carbon investments and financing, focusing on taxation that goes beyond energy, investing in low-carbon cities, adapting to a circular economy and low-carbon technologies, expanding electricity markets, and promoting climate-friendly international trade among the BRICS countries.

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Carbon Risk Analysis Of The South African Banks’ Lending To The JSE100 CDP Companies

Risk Governance and Control Financial Markets & Institutions ◽

10.22495/rgcv5i4c1art2 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 123-137

Author(s):

Alfred Bimha

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Carbon Emissions ◽

Stock Exchange ◽

Public Information ◽

Economic Transformation ◽

The Other ◽

Carbon Intensity

There is a pertinent concern over the continued lending to companies that are still pursuing projects that increase the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. South Africa has most of its energy generation being done through coal thermal powered turbines. More so there are a number of new power stations being built in South Africa that are coal powered. Coal on the other hand is deemed as having the highest amount of carbon that contributes to the greenhouse effect which in turn affects the climate leading to climate change consequences. There is also a growing concern on the uptake of renewable energy initiatives by companies that are deemed carbon intensive. Banks are being castigated for not using their economic transformation role to champion the agenda of combating climate change caused by carbon emissions. In this study, the extent of lending in the short and long term to carbon intensive companies by South African banks is examined. Using a sample of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange top 100 companies that participate in Carbon Disclosure Project, an analysis is done through four carbon metrics –carbon intensity, carbon dependency, carbon exposure, carbon risk. The analysis used public information from the banks’ websites, South African Reserve Bank reports and other public databases that contain sustainability information of the JSE100 companies. The analysis was done by comparing the carbon metrics of the recognized seven (7) sectorial industry catergories (SIC) on the JSE, mainly Energy & Materials, Industrials, Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, Financials, IT & Telecoms and Health Care. The major finding of the research is that there is a high carbon risk in short term loans compared to long term loans across the JSE100 companies that are analysed. More so, the Energy & Materials sector seem to have the highest carbon risk compared to the other sectors.

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The Link Between Climate Change and Digitization of Archives in South Africa

10.4018/978-1-7998-8482-8.ch031 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 537-552

Author(s):

Nkholedzeni Sidney Netshakhuma

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Digital Platforms ◽

National Archives ◽

Institutional Memory ◽

Strategic Role ◽

Long Term Preservation

This chapter assesses the link between climate change and digitisation of archives in South Africa. The study found linkage between flooding, fire, and digitization of archives in the sense that records required long-term preservation to be accessible. The chapter focuses on converting paper-based records into digital platforms as a strategic role to prevent records from damage. Heritage institution such as the National Archives of South Africa is in the forefront of the preservation of archives in South Africa. It is their national mandate to preserve archival materials and make them accessible to various stakeholders. The success of digitization is dependent on the organisation strategy. This means that partnership, privacy, copyright need to be considered. The research found that most of the heritage institutions in South Africa lack digitization strategy, which led to loss of institutional memory.

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Assessing the paleoenvironmental potential of Pliocene to Holocene tufa deposits along the Ghaap Plateau escarpment (South Africa) using stable isotopes

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/j.yqres.2015.04.008 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

pp. 133-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Taylor Louise Doran ◽

Andy I.R. Herries ◽

Philip J. Hopley ◽

Hank Sombroek ◽

John Hellstrom ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Environmental History ◽

Local Environment ◽

Environment Analysis ◽

Australopithecus Africanus ◽

Hominin Evolution ◽

Causal Processes ◽

Arid Conditions

The tufa deposits of the Ghaap Plateau escarpment provide a rich, yet minimally explored, geological archive of climate and environmental history coincident with hominin evolution in South Africa. This study examines the sedimentary and geochemical records of ancient and modern tufas from Buxton-Norlim Limeworks, Groot Kloof, and Gorrokop, to assess the potential of these sediments for providing reliable chronologies of high-resolution, paleoenvironmental information. Chronometric dating demonstrates that tufa formation has occurred from at least the terminal Pliocene through to the modern day. The stable isotope records show a trend toward higher, more variable δ18O and δ13C values with decreasing age from the end of the Pliocene onwards. The long-term increase in δ18O values corresponds to increasingly arid conditions, while increasing δ13C values reflect the changing proportion of C3/C4 vegetation in the local environment. Analysis of the Thabaseek Tufa, in particular, provides valuable evidence for reconstructing the depositional and chronological context of the enigmatic Taung Child (Australopithecus africanus). Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrate the potential of these deposits for developing high-precision records of climate change and ultimately, for understanding the causal processes relating climate and hominin evolution.

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Empirical Analysis of BRICS Countries Pathway Toward Low-Carbon Environment

10.21203/rs.3.rs-850439/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Li Cai ◽

Agyemang Kwasi Sampene ◽

Fredrick Oteng Agyeman ◽

Lincoln Abraham Ayisi ◽

Robert Brenya

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Hydrological Cycle ◽

Paris Agreement ◽

Ocean Current ◽

Human Society ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Energy Investment ◽

Brics Countries

Abstract Background: The rising sea level, the lasting variations on the surface ocean current, vulnerable ecosystems, hydrological cycle, extreme weather conditions, and the like are subjects emanating from the rising emission in the atmosphere. Global climate change has emerged as humanity's greatest challenge, affecting both the earth's natural security and the long-term growth of human society. Yet, the reckless pursuit of economic gains put social and ecological environmental safety at a severe demerit. This practice has brought grave consequences to humanity in environmental pollution, climate change, health hazards depletion, etc. Protecting the environment and fostering long-term growth while reducing carbon emissions has become a global concern. The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) are participating in the fight against climate change through LCE promotion. In this study, we use content analysis to discusses some of the policies, plans, programs outlined by the various governments in the BRICS that can help them reach to help them accomplish LCE. Results: The study discussion indicates that Brazil has adopted the (National Energy Plans 2030 and 2050), Russia (Energy strategy 2035 for Russia), India actions and plans also include (Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement of India, China (Pollution Control, Energy Conservation, and Carbon Reduction and South Africa (Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan). The result from the study also indicates that currently Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are rated "Insufficient," "Critically Insufficient," "Compactible" "incompatible," and "Highly Insufficient" respectively in their commitment to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. Conclusion: The paper recommends that BRICS countries reach LCE through; expansion in low-carbon investments and financing, focus on taxation extends beyond energy, investment in low-carbon cities, adapting to a circular economy and low-carbon technology, a revisitation of the electricity markets, and the promotion of climate-friendly international trade among the BRICS countries.

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Rethinking a sustainable truffle sector under global crises

Erdkunde ◽

10.3112/erdkunde.2021.04.06 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 75 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Ulf Büntgen ◽

Tomáš Čejka ◽

Mirek Trnka ◽

Paul W. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Global Climate Change ◽

Financial Crises ◽

Global Climate ◽

Risk Assessments ◽

Cultivation Practices ◽

Direct And Indirect Impacts ◽

Indirect Impacts

Global climate change is the main threat for the emerging truffle sector, which already extends across seven key regions in the Americas, Europe, South Africa and Australasia. At the same time, the potential effects of financial crises and global pandemics have not yet been considered in most risk assessments. Here we describe the direct and indirect impacts of the actual coronavirus pandemic on the rising truffle sector. We discuss how COVID-19 affects small family businesses and international enterprises, and if the current harvest decline will have ecological long-term benefits. Furthermore, we question extant cultivation practices, irrigation techniques and trade systems to prepare for a more equitable and sustainable future of the global truffle industry. Despite various foci on one of the most expensive gourmet foods and its associated agroforestry, we expect our reflections to be valuable for many other high-value crops, and a green agriculture in general.

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Conferences as Learning Spaces on Climate Change and Sustainability

Promoting Climate Change Awareness through Environmental Education - Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-8764-6.ch003 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 37-59

Author(s):

Mona Betour El Zoghbi

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Decision Making ◽

Well Being ◽

Youth Participation ◽

Learning Spaces ◽

New Learning ◽

Meaningful Engagement ◽

Depth Interviews

The international community is increasingly recognizing the importance of youth's meaningful engagement and empowerment for managing long-term climate change challenges, and of their consultation on policies and decisions that affect their well-being and sustainable development. Yet the extent to which new learning is generated in current spaces for youth participation in local, national and global negotiations and decision-making on environmental issues remains less understood. This Chapter discusses the importance and effectiveness of youth-targeted and youth-led environmental conferences, forums, workshops and similar events in advancing the learning experiences of youth participants in these events. Testimonials from young people, generated through in-depth interviews of youth participants at environmental conferences and forums in the Netherlands and South Africa provide key insights into their engagement. The findings highlight the need for more empowering and critically engaging platforms for youth participation and for adequate mentoring of young participants.

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