It is finally happening. After 40 years of membership of the European Union, the UK is now on course for an extreme Brexit that will have serious implications for all of our lives. Many aspects of the UK’s departure from the EU have been pored over. But one of the most profoundly impacted areas, our environmental policy, has barely been discussed. For those of us in the … [Read more...]
Nuclear plans ‘too sensitive’ for public to see, says minister
Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson has refused to supply the DA with a range of documents related to the government’s nuclear power procurement plans, saying they are privileged, sensitive state documents the release of which "could compromise the new build process". Another ground for her refusal is that the requested documents are also subject to the sub judice rule as … [Read more...]
Two monks, Wood and Wasi help assess King IV
Two companion monks came across a swollen, raging river on their travels. A pretty, young woman who had reached the same bank, asked them to help her cross the river. Without hesitation the older and senior of the two picked up the woman and helped her across. The younger monk was aghast because his companion had broken a vow that they had both taken – never to touch a … [Read more...]
Company environmental disclosures often hide bad things
The Centre for Environmental Rights has submitted comments on the Draft King IV Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa 2016 (King IV). As with all other comments submitted to the Institute of Directors of Southern Africa (IODSA) as part of the King IV Public Commentary process, our comments were submitted using the IODSA online commenting platform, and are available … [Read more...]
What are the next steps to domesticate the Paris Agreement?
Although South Africa has announced its intention to sign the Paris Agreement, there is still a long road ahead before it can be translated into constructive action domestically. The Paris climate change conference (UNFCCC COP21) stood out as not only a symbol of global solidarity, but also a beacon of hope for the then flailing international climate change negotiations. It … [Read more...]
Be on your guard, dezinformatsiya is coming
The erstwhile Russian KGB called it dezinformatsiya and spent a large amount of energy and resources on it: the distribution of false information, malicious rumours, fabricated intelligence reports and forged documents, letters and photographs. The aim was to disrupt and discredit opponents, to deceive and obscure and to influence public opinion. Dezinformatsiya came … [Read more...]
Fossil fuels subsidised by $10m a minute, says IMF
Fossil fuel companies are benefitting from global subsidies of $5.3 trillion (€4.74 tn) a year, equivalent to $10m a minute every day, according to a startling new estimate by the International Monetary Fund. The IMF calls the revelation “shocking” and says the figure is an “extremely robust” estimate of the true cost of fossil fuels. The $5.3 tn subsidy estimated for 2015 … [Read more...]
What is the state of environmental governance transparency?
Around 50% of the records requested from the Department of Environmental Affairs during 2015 were supplied to the Centre for Environmental Rights. The rest did not exist or were not under control of the Department. The Department of Mineral Resources released only 12.5% of requested records. The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has released its fifth report on access to … [Read more...]
Native people say ‘False Solutions’ won’t save Mother Earth at COP 21
A solidarity day, "Native People, Defenders of Mother Earth, the Environment and the Climate," was held in Paris by the Committee in Solidarity With the Indigenous People of the Americas (CSIA). This in the lead-up to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) to be held in Paris-Le Bourget from November 30 through … [Read more...]
SA working hard behind the scenes to fight climate change
South Africa will be able to take some of the credit if the world takes effective steps to limit climate change at the 2015 United Nations Climate Conference (COP21) in Paris from 30 November to 11 December. Of course this has taken much too long. So said Professor Bob Scholes, Global Change and Sustainability Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, during a … [Read more...]
Constitutional right to natural health products under jeopardy
Does your health depend on natural supplements, remedies or traditional products? Do you know that a proposed new bill is threatening the availability of the products you rely on? Some are already impossible to get hold of. Then sign a petition by the Traditional and Natural Health Alliance to the National Council of Provinces to stop Bill 6, which may destoy your choice to … [Read more...]
Join the Global Climate March chorus
The weekend before the biggest UN climate conference of the decade in Paris, the world will stand together in a weekend of global action at the People's Climate March. This is to send a powerful message to governments meeting in Paris: keep fossil fuels in the ground and finance a just transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Last year, the People's Climate March saw … [Read more...]
Climate hearings heat up with an eye on Paris
Many moving events are happening in the build up to the most important conference ever on the future of this planet. Last week parliament's Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs devoted one and a half days to holding Climate Hearings. Here was a bumper full hall of colourful people from our rainbow nation – from all sectors and walks of life – pleading with the … [Read more...]
