When Larry Fink announced in mid-January he’d be putting solving the climate emergency at the center of his US$7.43 trillion investment company BlackRock’s strategy, even long-time critics acknowledged it was a huge deal. “It takes leadership and a certain kind of courage to admit that change is needed,” wrote Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune at CNBC. “Now we … [Read more...]
Extinction Rebellion responds to 2020 SONA
“We undertake this decisive shift in our energy trajectory at a time when humankind faces its greatest existential threat in the form of climate change. Yesterday I met Ayakha Melithafa, a young climate activist from Eerste Rivier who attended the World Economic Forum in Davos this year to call on world leaders to stand firmly for climate justice. Ayakha asked me to make … [Read more...]
Entrepreneurs sought for growing Cape’s green economy
GreenCape and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), in partnership with Invest Cape Town, an initiative of the City of Cape Town, invite innovators and entrepreneurs with economically viable green economy innovation business ideas to enter the FNF GreenPitch Challenge 2019. Entries are open from Monday 18 November until noon on Friday 29 November. “The FNF is … [Read more...]
South Africa pushes for trade in endangered wildlife
The South African government, together with those of the DRC, Namibia and Zimbabwe, is proposing measures which, if enacted, could open the door to the international trade in elephant ivory, rhino horn and other endangered species. In a submission to the eighteenth conference of the parties (CoP18) to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild … [Read more...]
Calls for public release of the Climate Change Bill’s second draft
After months of silence from government on the progress of the Climate Change Bill, Environmental Affairs Minister Barbara Creecy informed Parliament during her Budget Vote speech on 11 July 2019 that the second draft of this critical piece of legislation is currently under review at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). The first draft of the Bill … [Read more...]
5 ‘green’ taxes that are hitting South Africans in the pocket
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has released a graph showing all of the additional environmental taxes that South Africans are currently paying. The organisation said that these taxes have contributed a total of R103. 61 billion, but have not been clearly linked to real changes in behaviour. “It would be disastrous if an issue as critical as climate change was … [Read more...]
England’s “meadow movement” sees roadsides blooming
A long-running campaign encouraging councils to let neatly-mown grass verges become mini meadows where wildflowers and wildlife can flourish appears to be building up a head of steam. Since 2013, Plantlife has been telling authorities the move could help them save money and boost their green credentials. Several have taken the message on board. An eight-mile "river of … [Read more...]
SA’s new cabinet a blow for efforts against climate change
Following the delayed announcement of President Ramaphosa’s cabinet this week, the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) and many civil society actors were disappointed and dismayed to hear that Mr Gwede Mantashe was awarded the newly combined Mineral Resources and Energy Ministry. “We are deeply concerned about the re-appointment of Mr Mantashe … [Read more...]
UK MPs pass a motion to declare a climate emergency
MPs have passed a motion making the UK parliament the first in the world to declare an “environment and climate emergency”. The symbolic move – recognising the urgency needed to combat the climate crisis – follows a wave of protests launched by the Extinction Rebellion strikers in recent weeks. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (photographed) called for the motion to “set off a … [Read more...]
How political parties plan to address climate change
“We urge South Africans to #VotefortheEnvironment when they head to the polls on 8 May. Citizens must choose leaders who recognise the urgency for climate change action and prioritises it in its policy agenda. We need a political party that stops protecting big business, but instead develops policies that will protect the environment, protect our workers and empower our … [Read more...]
Which political parties care about the environment?
Are our political parties addressing the bedrock issues of survival, or are they only interested in the short-term goal of re-election? In this country, with water constraints and fragile soil, we need to be very diligent about protecting these precious things, and about fighting climate change to ensure our own and our children’s futures. You could do worse than choose … [Read more...]
Hiding incidents at Koeberg is a problem for public safety
According to the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI), the recent revelations by Minister Pravin Gordhan that three separate safety ‘incidents’ had occurred at Koeberg Power Station in 2014 and 2015, should raise a red flag for South African citizens. Not only is the executive decision to keep the public in the dark about these incidents … [Read more...]
Green Party aims for harmony between humans and the environment
The Green Party of South Africa is standing for the Western Cape provincial elections this year. The party's core goal is to have humans live in harmony with each other and our environment. It is an ideology shared to some level by every citizen of this country – from those who wish they could end poverty for others, or for themselves, end animal cruelty, etc. and for those … [Read more...]
