Page 63 - State of Biodiversity 2023-2024

4.5.2. Climate Change
In the City of Durban, the following changes have been projected to occur:
• Increases in temperature of 1.5-2.5oC by 2045- 2065 and 3-5oC by 2081-2100. Rainfall in the City of Durban is projected to increase in the future (up to an additional 500mm by 2081-2100). The distribution and variability of this rainfall will change, with rainfall events becoming more erratic.
• The sea level along the coastline in the EMA is rising at present by 2.7cm every decade. Projections indicate that this rate is likely to accelerate in the future.
• Due to these changes in temperature and rainfall, the climatic conditions in which the fauna and flora in the EMA exist could change or shift. This will place additional pressure on eThekwini Municipality’s biodiversity as species may only be adapted to a narrow climatic range or may have limited ability to disperse to new areas where climatic conditions are suitable.
• Increased CO2 availability in the atmosphere, which favour more woody plant species growth and thereby ecosystems are likely to become woody, and the spread of invasive alien plants is expected to increase as a result.
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