Recent hurricanes in the Caribbean and the United States and devastating floods across South Asia are a stark reminder of the horrors that climate change will unleash if left unchecked. In 2016, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said that inaction on climate change 'would spell disaster for us, for our children and for the planet.' And yet, the World Bank Group continues to … [Read more...]
Coastal clean-up initiative sees record number of participants
This past weekend saw the 21st year in which South Africa participated in the International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC) – an annual event that has become the biggest, global volunteer effort for ocean health. “We coordinated more than 400 beach clean-up points around the Cape and 40 in KZN in partnership with the KZN Marine Waste Network members on Saturday alone. This excludes … [Read more...]
Fun runners clean Joburg, one plastic bottle at a time
A group of just over 180 proud residents took to the streets of Joburg on Sunday, 17 September 2017 as part of a ‘Joburg City Clean-Up’ in the prelude to the 2nd annual FNB Joburg 10K City Run. “We were overwhelmed by the support that the ‘Joburg City Clean-Up’ received today,” says Blake Dyason, ‘Joburg City Clean-Up’ pioneer. “Our cities have so much history and … [Read more...]
Engineering study dispels myths on limits to renewables in SA
A serious engineering study and report has dispelled the myths and propaganda peddled by fired former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe and suspended Eskom acting CEO Matshela Koko on the limits and costs of accommodating significant levels of variable renewable energy capacity in the South African power grid. The study and associated report was prepared for the South African … [Read more...]
Let’s Do It! coastal clean-up initiative comes to Africa
Covering nearly 1,500 kilometres of the South African coastline, with a number of nodal clean-ups to be implemented from Melkbosstrand in the west, to Ballito on the east coast of South Africa, the inaugural ‘Big Clean-up’ – a network of participating organisations and volunteer groups – will deliver a wave of change to our shores this International Coastal Clean-up Day (ICC), … [Read more...]
British company still exporting dangerous lead in petrol
A British company made millions this year selling a dangerous chemical linked to brain damage and premature death to a developing country, despite repeatedly stating it would stop. Innospec claims to be the only company in the world that manufactures a fuel additive called tetraethyl lead (TEL) — which is the lead in leaded petrol. TEL can be added to fuel to improve … [Read more...]
Ghana environmentalists demand long-overdue forest protection
Ghana Environmentalists are demanding that government immediately approves the more than five-year-old Timber Procurement Policy aimed at helping save the country’s forests. The policy which was drafted by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources requires that government agencies and state contractors use only legally harvested timber and legitimately produced timber … [Read more...]
Brazil rejects oil company’s ‘Amazon Reef’ drilling bid
Brazil’s environmental regulator Ibama said on Tuesday it has rejected Total SA’s environmental study on drilling in the Foz do Amazonas basin, warning it needs more information or it will suspend the French oil firm’s license application. Ibama’s repeated refusals to accept Total’s environmental impact study has held up the company’s four-year quest to explore the offshore … [Read more...]
Power Purchase Agreements will be signed in October says energy minister
It is good news to the ears of Independent Power Producers that Eskom, will in October, sign the Power Purchase Agreements, Minister of Energy, Mmamoloko Kubayi announced today. This comes after stakeholder engagement between the Department of Energy and the Department of Public Enterprises. Eskom refused to sign the agreements in 2016, claiming that it had an over supply of … [Read more...]
Disaster relief money starts flowing into Western Cape
The Western Cape government has received the first tranche of the money it needs to cope with the devastating drought and fires in the province, Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Des van Rooyen said on Tuesday. The first tranche of R34 866 263 was transferred on August 21 to the municipalities of Cape Town, Bitou and Theewaterskloof and a second … [Read more...]
Plans to save Africa’s polluted coastlines
The oceans have become the world’s biggest rubbish dump – and Africa’s coastlines are under siege. It is now the world’s second most polluted continent. Microplastics, chemical and agricultural runoff, oil, sewage and solid waste are contributing to the polluting of much of the continent’s natural resources warns the African Marine Waste Network (AMWN). But numerous … [Read more...]
Fears of another Fukushima linger as tropical storm pummels Texas
In the midst of Tropical Storm Harvey's drenching onslaught, energy watchdogs are sounding the alarm over the continued operation of two nuclear reactors in East Texas that are running at full capacity despite what they claim is the clear potential for a major disaster. Located near Bay City, Texas, the reactors belong to the South Texas Project, a 12,200-acre nuclear power … [Read more...]
Coal and nuclear lobbies threaten renewables in South Africa
South African power utility Eskom recently repeated that it will not conclude supply contracts with the developers of new renewable energy power stations. These developers were selected under a programme to facilitate private sector involvement in the building of medium-sized renewable energy power stations. The programme has won plaudits for its success in facilitating the … [Read more...]
