Following the devastating impact which the Covid-19 pandemic has had on South Africa and the world, governments, corporates, and citizens collaborate to focus on a green economic recovery. This is a result of the pandemic being inextricably intertwined with global environmental issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, air and water pollution. The South African … [Read more...]
PET bottle recycling benefits the environment while creating income
Despite global market contractions, and now the rolling economic impact of Covid-19, South Africa’s PET plastic recycling value chain has kept its wheels turning, delivering another positive annual recycling rate while creating thousands of jobs for informal reclaimers who returned to work under level three of the national lockdown. According to new statistics released by … [Read more...]
Concern over Minister Gwede Mantashe’s fixation on nuclear power
Extinction Rebellion South Africa shares the concern voiced by many people and organizations over Minister Gwede Mantashe’s unreasonable fixation on nuclear power. In May, Minister Mantashe said, when addressing the Portfolio Committee: “We are going to explore all options, when there is appetite for nuclear in the market, we will go ahead with it.” Is that a sound plan? Why … [Read more...]
COVID-19: An urgent Maasai cry for help
Avaaz has received an urgent cry for help from Nashulai, the award-winning Maasai-led nature conservancy in Kenya that our movement helped to launch. COVID-19 has devastated Nashulai, and the brave community behind this visionary conservation project are staring starvation and destitution in the face. The conservancy relies on tourism, and it's collapsed. As a result, there … [Read more...]
Global funding helps Cape Town school go solar
Solar micro-leasing marketplace Sun Exchange announced on Wednesday that it would be a key partner in providing solar power for several Western Cape Education Department schools, starting with Protea Heights Academy in Cape Town. Sun Exchange enables schools and businesses to have solar power installed with no upfront or ongoing operational costs. With immediate savings on … [Read more...]
Six lucky recyclers will receive loans to fund their projects
Recycling initiatives are often in need of seed support, whilst volumes escalate and the business becomes viable. This is why POLYCO, the Polyolefin Recycling Company, is helping 6 operations with supportive loans. They have released the names of the six successful applicants who will be receiving total investment loans of R7 million over the next 6 months to fund their … [Read more...]
UN Climate Fund should not support fossil fuels
More than 250 organizations, movements and communities from developing countries have called on the United Nations' Green Climate Fund (GCF) to ban the use of its funds for fossil fuel and other harmful energy projects and programs as it gathers for its 7th Board Meeting. "To use climate funds to finance fossil fuel and other harmful energy projects is totally unacceptable," … [Read more...]
EU proposes 40% carbon pollution cut by 2030
EU policymakers have proposed that the 28-nation bloc cuts its greenhouse emissions 40 percent by 2030 from 1990 levels, overcoming pressure from some member states and other Commissioners for a weaker 35% target. The 40% percent cut in greenhouse gases will be backed by a binding renewables EU-wide target of at least 27%, the European Commission said in a statement. “In … [Read more...]
Help protect our ocean and coastal communities
Millions of people living along the coast and elsewhere in rural Africa are dependent upon natural resources from which they harvest unsustainably. Some coastal communities are among the poorest in the world and are extremely vulnerable to the potential negative effects of climate change. They have no choice but to continue to use the diminishing resources upon which they … [Read more...]
Hydropower conference to remove barriers
"Investment in small hydropower projects in Africa will increase if tariff and non tariff barriers are removed, which will boost investor confidence" says Leonard Kassana, a well-known international hydropower consultant with the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) at the Ministry of Infrastructure in Rwanda. Following a feasibility study for small hydropower … [Read more...]
Tragic World Bank decision leads to many questions
'This is a tragic decision,' said David Parry-Davies, environmentalist and editor of the yearly landmark publication Enviropaedia, about the news that the World Bank had approved a loan of US3,75-billion to Eskom to build a coal-fired power plant at Medupi, northern Limpopo. Shockwaves rippled through the South African green community, as David verbalized what many hard … [Read more...]
Come green your business with Nedbank
The Business Day-Nedbank Greening Your Business course This practical and focused multimedia course includes a dozen new case studies, as well as templates, exercises, self-assessments, a guide to formulating your own sustainability plan and a host of useful links. It will be available for download FREE for six weeks from October 10 2011 for the first 2000 participants to … [Read more...]
