As South Africa gears up to attend the 28th UN Climate Change Conference – also known as COP28, which will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December 2023 – the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) says that it is important to have an approach to climate change that centres on the most vulnerable, especially because … [Read more...]
Powering up climate solutions with renewables
South African eco-justice activists joined the global movement Power Up for Climate Solutions to kick off a month (from 3 November to 9 December) of environmental and climate action in the lead up to COP28 outside Parliament on Friday. The Green Connection, African Climate Alliance, Extinction Rebellion, 350.org, and Project 90 by 2030 joined others around the world in a … [Read more...]
Accelerating much-needed investment for climate adaptation
Two new partnerships for scaling up adaptation action in developing countries were launched at the Climate Ambition Summit under the Secretary-General’s Adaptation Pipeline Accelerator. This initiative aims to pioneer a new collaborative model for accelerating investment for adaptation in developing countries. Australia and Spain will partner with the small island … [Read more...]
Water crisis threatens food security and sustainability
Water, the world's most precious yet undervalued resource, lies at the heart of a mounting global crisis that threatens not only food security, but also human and planetary health, warns a new report by WWF. Released on World Food Day, The High Cost of Cheap Water uncovers a stark reality: the annual economic value of water and freshwater ecosystems is estimated to be US$58 … [Read more...]
Funds needed for quake-hit families in Afghanistan
UN agencies are appealing for urgent funds to assist the hundreds of thousands affected by deadly earthquakes in western Afghanistan. The region was struck by two massive earthquakes on Saturday, followed a series of aftershocks, including a major one on Wednesday that flattened several homes spared by the original quake. Women and children make up over 90 per cent of the … [Read more...]
Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife needs support
With 355 animals currently in their sanctuary, and with an impressive 164 998 animals rescued over 43 years, the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) calls on South Africans to join in commemorating World Animal Day on 4 October, and appeals for financial support for the astonishing work they do. “The theme for World Animal Day 2023 is 'Great or Small, Love Them … [Read more...]
The ‘no-nonsense’ Climate Ambition Summit
The race to protect the planet is about to accelerate, as world leaders, business giants, and experts gather to attend the Climate Ambition Summit on Wednesday. Almost all indicators are off-track or heading in the wrong direction. Extreme weather events are displacing millions of people, the world is heating up, and out-of-control wildfires continue to cause death and … [Read more...]
Greenpeace Africa joins global #EndFossilFuels mobilisation
On Friday, Greenpeace Africa volunteers in Johannesburg and Durban participated in activities as part of the global #EndFossilFuels day of mobilisation. Over 650 similar events are taking place in more than 60 countries worldwide. World leaders are gathering for the UN General Assembly and the UN Secretary General is convening a “no-nonsense” Climate Ambition Summit in New … [Read more...]
Humanitarian response ramped up after Libya floods
UN agencies and partners are responding to the disaster unfolding in eastern Libya after extreme rainfall caused devastating flooding and loss of life over the weekend, humanitarians told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday. Latest figures as of Tuesday night, suggest there could be more than 5,000 people dead and around 10,000 have been reported missing in the massive floods … [Read more...]
Guterres leads call to make Africa ‘a renewable energy superpower’
The flame of injustice is “scorching hopes and possibilities” across Africa as the world grapples with the climate crisis, with the continent suffering some of the worst impacts of global warming said the UN chief on Tuesday. Secretary-General António Guterres was addressing the African Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, noting that despite “extreme heat, ferocious floods, … [Read more...]
Protecting children’s right to a healthy environment
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child issued new guidance on Monday that calls for governments to take action to protect boys and girls in the face of the deepening climate crisis. The so-called General Comment No. 26 marks the first time the Committee has affirmed children’s right to live in a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. It provides a comprehensive … [Read more...]
Pakistan children reeling after catastrophic floods
Millions of children in Pakistan remain dependent on humanitarian assistance as recovery and rehabilitation efforts from last year’s catastrophic floods lack sufficient funding, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday. Speaking one year on from the unprecedented disaster, Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, noted new challenges for about four million … [Read more...]
Preventing droughts, floods and soil erosion in Somalia
Somalia is threatened by its worst drought in 40 years. In 2022 alone, there were 42,000 excess deaths and since 2021, at least 3.5 million livestock have been killed and an estimated 1.4 million people have been displaced. Climate change means the situation is unlikely to improve, with extreme weather events becoming more likely. Against this backdrop, recurring … [Read more...]
