Peter Johnston

Peter Johnston is a climate scientist at the University of Cape Town. He was previously a high school teacher and principal, between 1986 and 1999. His current research focuses on the applications and impacts of climate variability and change on various user sectors. He specialises in agriculture and water-related activities with special emphasis on vulnerability and adaptation options. His interests and involvement have taken him to many African countries to learn from, and contribute to, other water and agricultural adaptive practices to climate change and variability. Recent research included the application of models to determine the financial impacts and sustainable adaptation options for agriculture under climate change scenarios for commercial and small-scale farmers. Other work is focused on the climate risks and decision-making time frames associated with agriculture, water and food security for the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, and the impact of climate change on the financial vulnerability of maize, grape, wheat and citrus farmers in South Africa. Currently, he is involved in East Africa, in the CONFER project to develop climate services. His role is in training and capacity building.  He has also just concluded a project with Grain SA in building climate resilience among grain farmers in the WC, FS, NW, EC and NC provinces of South Africa. He is actively involved in identifying vulnerabilities in other agricultural sectors such as deciduous fruit, nuts, livestock, and dairy. He was widely consulted during the recent South-Western Cape drought, and designed, and assisted in developing, a statistical model to predict annual and seasonal rainfall totals for the region. He also advises and contributes to the assessment of water usage and public perception towards drought, as well as fire risk and exposure. He has numerous publications and he co-authored the South African chapter of Southern African Agriculture and Climate Change, IFPRI, 2013). He has delivered many public lectures on climate, water and agricultural issues and is regularly consulted by media for comment on topical weather and climate events. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia.