A new state-of-the-art 1.3MWp solar power plant will power green recycling for the African continent. Extrupet is one of the largest and most advanced recyclers of plastics on the African continent and recycles more than 4 million PET bottles every day at their Wadeville facility. With the switch to renewable energy, Extrupet has become one of the first companies in the … [Read more...]
The profound mental health implications of climate change
A new report by community psychology expert, Dr Garret Barnwell, shows that climate change harms are already negatively impacting our mental well-being and these effects will only accelerate in the future, placing today’s youth and future generations in harm’s way. The findings of the report, commissioned by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) for the African Climate … [Read more...]
Will UCT divest from fossil fuels by 2030?
After eight long years of trying to persuade UCT to stop investments in fossil fuels, the University of Cape Town’s Panel on Responsible Investment (UPRI) has now published its recommendation on divestment, which is that UCT should divest from all fossil fuel investments by 2030. The University of Cape Town’s Panel on Responsible Investment (UPRI) has now published its … [Read more...]
Major concerns over government’s nuclear energy obsession
The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg – the two civil society organisations who took the South African government to court over its illegal and unconstitutional R1-trillion nuclear deal with Russia in 2017 – are concerned at the new push by the Department of Minister Resources and Energy (DMRE) for more nuclear … [Read more...]
Nersa Electricity Generation Application Process “flawed”
Earlier this week, The Green Connection and others made their oral presentations at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) public hearings regarding the Karpowership SA electricity generation application. According to the environmental justice organisation’s Strategic Lead Liziwe McDaid, “While the Green Connection is on record for objecting to the floating … [Read more...]
Kenya’s post-covid recovery should prioritise people not coal
A post-covid recovery plan should prioritise people and not a polluting coal industry, this is according to Greenpeace Africa. The Kenyan budget outlining the governments’ plans for Kenya’s Post COVID recovery released in June 2021 clearly shows the government’s intentions to prioritise coal over the health and well-being of Kenyans. The budget focuses on coal exploration … [Read more...]
Fishing communities respond to Karpowership SA appeal
On 16 August 2021, the Green Connection submitted its response to the appeal – by Karpowership SA, and others – against the decision by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) to refuse environmental authorisations for the floating power plants (FPPs). Small-scale fishers from the West Coast and other stakeholders are also sending responses to … [Read more...]
Women in Lephalale tell of the harsh reality of living next to Medupi
While news of the ‘completion’ of the Medupi power station has been met with both celebration and scepticism, women in Lephalale (in Limpopo) and surrounds, however, are filled with dread of having a pollution-intensive coal-fired power station in their backyard and running at full capacity. In addition to the obvious carbon emissions, Medupi will also emit other dangerous and … [Read more...]
Citrus farmer celebrates two years of solar energy
One of South Africa’s largest citrus farms are celebrating their second solar-versary. Their 265.98 kWp roof-mounted solar plant, that is made up of 806 x 330Wp Canadian Solar Photovoltaic panels, was commissioned in June 2019 and has been harnessing the sun’s energy and converting it to electricity to power the farm ever since. Joubert en Seuns is a well-established farming … [Read more...]
Report questions decision to finance Limpopo coal mine
A new report by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) questions the Industrial Development Corporation’s (IDC’s) decision to extend finance to coal company MC Mining Limited for coal mining developments in Limpopo. This case study follows CER’s 2020 Financing Fairly Report, which found that the investment policies of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the … [Read more...]
Civil society welcomes decision to reject Karpowerships
Environmental justice groups and coastal communities are celebrating an unexpected victory. Civil society groups have been alleging that the EIA processes were flawed, and yesterday, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) made public its decision to refuse all three environmental authorisations applications (EA) for the gas-to-power projects proposed for … [Read more...]
Preferred bidder status investigation needed for Karpowerships
The Karpowership debacle heats up even more this week, as numerous interested and affected South Africans – led by environmental justice organisation, the Green Connection – sent a letter reiterating the call for urgent public hearings around the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP), and specifically the choice to award preferred bidder … [Read more...]
Perfect storm brews after more issues at Koeberg
The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) says a combination of factors currently impacting the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (Koeberg), on top of Eskom’s inability to keep the power on, could result in the perfect storm for the country. SAFCEI’s Executive Director Francesca de Gasparis says, “It is disturbing that one of Koeberg’s two units has … [Read more...]
