We can't make it rain. But you are already helping if you don't use more water than you need. And you can talk to your parents about the planet getting warmer, because the heat makes drought worse.
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Articles on drought response
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For hot, dry and water-stressed countries like Botswana and Namibia, high temperatures and droughts will be more severe than the global average.
Having an envoy for drought and a prime minister keen to visit drought-affected areas puts the government under pressure to do the wrong thing.
The government has offered emergency payments to drought-stricken farmers. But if we really care about them, we'll also invest in long-term drought resilience measures to reduce impacts.
The drought in Cape Town has taught the city some valuable lessons.
Cape Town is testing new strategies to nudge domestic users into reducing their water use.
Day Zero will be the start of active water rationing when taps will be cut off and people will have to go to collection sites.
Global examples show South Africa that desalination could increase water output.
Cape Town's new water map shows users who are within the water restriction limit.
It’s important for the city of Cape Town to inspire residential trust in water restrictions. Without this, the harsh effects of the drought will be exacerbated.
Desalination has been proposed as one of many strategies to deal with the water shortages. But the process is known to be expensive and harmful to the environment.
Early warning signs of a pending drought are difficult to recognise but cities will have to be better prepared for prolonged changes in weather patterns, so that it can respond quickly.
Windhoek can teach Cape Town on dealing with drought. Technology alone is not enough.
Building resilience in Cape Town's water sector will require addressing risks like climate change, drought and flooding. Stormwater and groundwater are tipped as potential solutions.
Older people require both psychological and nutritional support during drought and famine. Kenya needs to implement a comprehensive public health response that assists during emergency situations.
Drought is a problem in South Africa and it affects farmers. As a result, farmers and government are working together to develop strategies.
Understanding how drought is impacting on livelihoods and local governments can help in the development of longer term climate adaptation responses.
Top contributors
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Senior Lecturer in Environmental & Geographical Science, University of Cape Town
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Global Change Institute, University of the Witwatersrand
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Professor, Department of Economics, University of Melbourne
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Associate Professor, University of Canberra
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Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University
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PhD Candidate in Public Health, University of Canberra
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Director, African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town
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Postdoctoral research scientist, African Population and Health Research Center
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Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Geographical Science and African Climate and Development Initiative Research Chair, University of Cape Town
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Researcher and Project Manager in Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change, University of Cape Town
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Doctor of Philosophy, University of British Columbia
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Associate Professor, IRES, Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice, University of British Columbia
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Senior Lecturer/Senior Researcher, Departmant of Geography, History and Environmental Studies, University of Namibia, University of Namibia
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Climate Change Vulnerability, Adaptation & Governance - Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR), University of Cape Town
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Associate Professor of Chemistry, Lecturer in sustainable biomass, energy and water systems, University of KwaZulu-Natal
