Climate change is threatening South Africa’s books, archives, and history.
- Books come from plants and they are damaged by water, insects, and humidity.
- Archives preserve the stories and experiences that shape South Africa’s identity for future generations.
- Climate threats to historical records grow.
When the University of Cape Town’s Jagger Library burned in 2021, South Africa lost priceless books, manuscripts and archives that could never be replaced. Literary scholar Isabel Hofmeyr says the disaster exposed an often-overlooked consequence of climate change: it is not only threatening ecosystems but also the books and records that preserve the nation’s history.
Speaking at a seminar at the Wits Club on 29 July, Hofmeyer said books are more than just paper-based objects. They exist within a broader ecosystem: paper is made from plants, insects can damage books, water can destroy archives, and environmental conditions influence how knowledge is produced and protected.
The loss of books and archives is about more than damaged paper. These records preserve South Africa’s history, culture and identity by documenting important events, people and communities. Researchers, students and future generations rely on these collections to understand the country’s past. When historical records are destroyed, valuable information is lost forever, making it harder to preserve stories that have shaped the nation.
Climate change is increasing the risk of extreme weather events such as wildfires, floods and rising temperatures, all of which can damage libraries and archives. Paper is vulnerable to heat, moisture and humidity, while insects and mould can further destroy fragile collections. As these environmental threats become more frequent, institutions responsible for protecting historical records face growing challenges in preserving them. Without proper conservation and protection, South Africa could lose more irreplaceable documents that hold historical, educational, and cultural value.
Hofmeyr said that “to reduce the risk of permanent loss, we need protection efforts” like improving storage conditions, monitoring humidity and temperature, and creating digital copies of important documents. She further added that it will also require funding and long-term planning to ensure valuable historical records remain available for future generations.
Speaking to WV after the seminar, Bachelor of Science student, Omphile Mankgaba, said the issue revealed an impact of climate change that many people do not usually consider. “I find it fascinating that in all the things we are looking at for climate change impacts, books are impacted,“ she said.
Master of Arts student Gareth Cruywagen said the discussion changed the way he thinks about environmental issues. “Climate change is destroying our history,” he said.
As climate change continues to threaten communities and the environment, protecting libraries, archives and historical records is becoming increasingly important. Preserving these collections will help ensure that South Africa’s history, knowledge, and cultural heritage remain available for future generations.
FEATURE:A rare volume is displayed with care ,showing how archives keep stories of the past alive for future generations. Photo by: Khutso Ngwatoana
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