By Tony Carnie. This article was originally published on page
3 of The Mercury on March 02, 2006
Scientists are putting the finishing
touches to the most comprehensive report to date on the state of the
environment in South Africa.
The report, due for publication in
May, will include a variety of educated predictions on what the country might
look like 20 years from now.
The last national
state-of-the-environment report was published on the Internet in 1999, and the
latest report is unlikely to paint a rosier picture.
Early indications from some of the
authors suggest it will highlight air pollution, degraded rivers, water
shortages and desertification as particular areas of concern.
According to a recent newsletter
published by the department of environmental affairs, the report will say that
air pollution levels often exceed recommended health limits; that most of the
rivers close to the biggest cities are in a poor state; and that South Africa's
Earth-warming carbon emissions at 9.8 tons a person a year are higher than the
global average of seven tons.
Although there are still substantial areas of unmodified natural landscapes, the report will also voice concern about the state of many inland water bodies, although coastal and marine ecosystems are said to be "in a relatively good condition".
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