any change in the long-established climate pattern

a change in the climate of the whole planet

the current rapid increase in global temperatures

gas in the atmosphere that absorbs heat energy re-radiated from the Earth, which causes the temperature of the atmosphere to rise

the heating of the atmosphere caused by the presence of greenhouse gases

fuels such as coal, oil, petrol, diesel and natural gas that are formed when dead plant materials are compacted under high pressure over thousands of years

greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere as a result of human activities

something that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

the destruction of forests

fuels made from a biological sources such as plant material or from waste recovered from solid waste dumps

the process by which an area becomes too dry and hot for most plants to grow and it turns into a desert

a measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions through the activities of a country, an organisation or a person in one year

a gas that occurs naturally in the atmosphere; made up of three oxygen atoms

a layer of ozone found in the upper part of the atmosphere called the stratosphere

the reduction of the amount of ozone in the stratosphere

the amount of fresh water that is available for humans and for the ecosystems that depend on it

water that has low levels of dissolved salts and is suitable for drinking

water that occurs on the surface of the land in water bodies such as rivers and wetlands

water that is found underground in the spaces between sand particles and the cracks in rocks

an underground layer of loose sand or rock with many spaces and cracks that allow water to move through it

a stream of water that flows over the land in a natural channel

an area of land that is partly covered by water for some or all of the year

a hole drilled down into the ground to reach groundwater

the addition of something to the ecosystem that has a detrimental effect on it

the amount of water that is needed for human basic needs and social and economic needs

the amount of water that is needed for the healthy functioning of aquatic ecosystems

a line of separation between waters flowing to different rivers

water from the shower, bath, bathroom sink and washing machine

the physical, chemical, microbiological and aesthetic properties of water

the addition of high levels of nutrients to water

the water we use to get rid of sewage and other household wastes

human wastes consisting of urine and faeces

the rapid growth of algae, often caused by eutrophication of water

the drainage of highly acidic water from mines into the surface of land or into groundwater

plants that are not indigenous to South Africa but come from other countries

alien plants that spread quickly and replace indigenous plants

processing used materials (waste) into new products to prevent wasting potentially useful materials

the process of removing substances such as suspended solids, dissolved substances and micro-organisms from the water

an excessive number of organisms, straining available resources and facilities

lack of availability of food or lack of access to it

with little rain

the variation of forms of genes, occurring both within and among populations

poisons used to kill insects that are pests

ways of controlling pests

the fertile, upper layer of the soil

land left unsown for a period as part of a crop rotation in order to restore its fertility

government by the few

natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native, indigenous

an organism or a group of organisms that ceases to exist

cultivate specimens of a plant or animal by natural processes from the parent stock

power or ability to return to the original form after being bent, compressed or stretched

natural services that maintain an ecosystem in a healthy state

chemical products used in agriculture, such as pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides

the material transported by the water in a river

when alien plant invaders destroy habitats by taking over grazing lands

a process of breaking into smaller pieces or fragments

holes on the Earth's surface that develop as a result of underground mine tunnels collapsing

the animal and plant life of a region

the movement of rainwater over the land surface

birds of prey such as owls and falcons

wild or untamed animals that roam urban areas

without a predictable pattern

a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or event

herbaceous perennials that store water and nutrients in underground tubers in order to survive harsh climates

referring to a river or river bank

a share or allocation that an individual is entitled to receive

a collective name for wild animals and birds that are hunted for food or sport

to gain advantage or supremacy over another

rate quantities increase in less and less time

passing craze or fashion

underground swollen stem which forms the stem base of some plants

to separate into basic components or elements

management based on the principles of sustainable development

a product or solution formed by leaching, especially a solution containing contaminants picked up through the leaching of soil

conforming to standards

colourless, odourless gas

found in or formed by living things

the production of methane, mainly by anaerobic micro-organisms

living in the absence of or free of oxygen

a bacterial organism that can use methane as its only source of carbon energy

a silvery-white metallic chemical element assigned the chemical symbol U

splitting of something into two parts

spontaneously emitting radiation, either directly from unstable atomic nuclei or as a consequence of a nuclear reaction

a radioactive chemical element with the chemical symbol Pu

The earth's air temperature rate has been increasing at a faster rate that the earth's normal climate pattern

In South Africa it is predicted that the western parts of the country will become hotter and drier, while the eastern parts will become hotter and wetter.

South Africa is a water stressed country

Water quality in South Africa is determined by natural factors.

Alien invasive plants compete with water and land space and thus lead to fewer crops being grown.

To meet human needs land has to been transformed by urbanisation

Methane gas is a natural offshoot of landfilling that can be used to create environmentally friendly electricity