The world is in the grip of a climate emergency, with the UN Environment Programme saying global carbon emissions reductions must hit 7.6% annually until 2030 to meet the 1.5°C stabilisation target.

SA is warming twice as fast as the global average, with widespread drought hurting farmers and the rural poor. Day Zero — no water in the taps — has already hit several SA municipalities. The developmental gains SA has made over the past decades are all at risk because of climate change...