Hope springs eternal

Dr Fahim Chand | Monday September 5, 2022 06:00

The soft wavy brown hair not only mirrored the sun’s illuminated spotlight, but danced seductively in the wind’s natural symphony. Prada shielded eyes gazed into the distance as the climax of the show began.

The nuclear fusion powered ball of gas took centre stage. Illuminator and sustainer of life on earth, at this time of day it now cast red bolts of illuminated light at its captive audience.

As the sky framed the sun’s master performance, it too transformed creating its own masterpiece. The blue hue now displayed shades of dark orange and purple.

As this kaleidoscope played on, it cast shimmering reflections off the ocean. The white capped waves crashed into the waiting white beach sand. And while no ocean sound could make its way to this elevated mountain vantage point, the sea never fails to take your breath away. And as the sun scraped its nails on the constant sky, pleading to remain and entertain the captive audience, a haunting melody perfumed the air. Another spellbinding performance was about to begin.

This one catalysed by human DNA. Three young gentlemen had navigated their way off the main mountain perch and sat cross-legged on a large rock with not only the dramatic cliff drop as the background, but the spectacular mountains pointing the way to the tip of the peninsula. And if this was not enough, the steadfast ocean and the screeching sunset were invited to this party.

The soundtrack now provided by the young men as they played a haunting melody on their flutes, with the sun, seemingly in slow motion departing in a spectacular and memorable demise.

There are certain moments so spellbinding that they etch an indelible imprint on the most sacred part of your hippocampus, never to be forgotten. This was one of them. And in the broad and diverse audience, billionaire and pauper alike, we had just been schooled in the lesson that the best things in life need no dollars, pulas or pin codes. Experiences are what life is about. And as Shabana’s Prada sunglasses found a new home perched atop her head, the brown curls continued in their captivating waltz.

This is Table Mountain in Cape Town, one of the finest coastal cities on this planet. The sea has always captivated; the magnet that has drawn explorers since the beginning of time. The calm that has soothed a tormented spirit and catapulted lovers on to a lifelong adventure. But could it also destroy what we hold dear? Satellite data has revealed an alarming reality for coastal cites around the globe. Many are sinking several centimeters a year. And while falling land levels are a contributor, we are being hit with the other side of the hammer as well. Sea levels are rising due to climate change. This double blow puts coastal regions at a serious risk for flooding. What causes the sinking? The simple answer is it’s largely caused by people. Studies hint that the ground is sinking due to people pumping out groundwater for drinking and other uses. But there may be reason to be hopeful. In the past, Jakarta in Indonesia was sinking annually by nearly 30 cm on average!!!! But sinking has slowed there and other places, likely due to government regulations that has restricted how much groundwater can be extracted. But what about the rising sea levels? Those of us who live in landlocked countries may find global warming difficult to visualise, since rising waters and flooding don’t affect us directly. A visit to Climate Central website may help. As the climate gets warmer and pollution continues unabated, this site provides maps that show which parts of the world could find themselves underwater, as early as 2030. The data used to construct these maps comes from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2021 report. This is some of the most reliable climate change data out there. As for

the rising sea levels, the IPCC is clear here.

We need to reduce greenhouse emissions. Keep in mind that currently 11% of the world’s population, which amounts to 896 million people, and critical infrastructure are concentrated along coastlines. These low elevation areas leave them vulnerable to both climate and non-climate hazards. The IPCC estimates that by 2100 global assets within flood plains in a mid-range emission scenario would value 7.9-12.7 trillion dollars. In a high greenhouse emission scenario that value rises to 14.2 trillion dollars worth of assets in danger.

These impacts would be felt well beyond coastal cities. As ports are damaged, global supply chains would be impacted, with potentially major geo-political and economic consequences. And while the IPCC report is not just another doom story, it does highlight the need for action in order to protect ourselves and our communities.

As with most global problems, international cooperation is essential here. Always difficult in our global playground. But as always, hope springs eternal. A lot can change between now and 2100. We could build flood defences, adapt our cities and take dramatic action to halt global warming. At least then we wouldn’t need scuba diving gear to see the Statue of Liberty.