The use of plastic in the world is affecting and destroying our planet. This is due to the ‘throw-away’ mentality that many of us have without considering the extreme damages and harm not only to the environment but the consequential impact on human life. It has been reported that 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced - and about 8 million tonnes of plastic waste enters … [Read more...]
Polluted air causing premature deaths in Mpumalanga Highveld
Every day, people living and working on the Mpumalanga Highveld are breathing toxic, polluted air that is harmful to their health and well-being. This is the basis of the Deadly Air case, which will be heard by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on 17 to 19 May 2021. The applicants in the court case, environmental justice groups groundWork and the Vukani Environmental … [Read more...]
The future of water in SA’s agriculture sector
As early as 2012 the World Economic Forum (WEF) warned that water security was one of the most significant risks to the planet and its people. Water concerns in one form or another have ranked among the top five risks of the WEF Global Risks Report ever since. In South Africa, the national government's Water and Sanitation Master Plan has informed much-needed amendments … [Read more...]
Inga 3 project going ahead amid COVID-19 pandemic
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) concluded a week-long conference in June earlier this year on the beleaguered Grand Inga Dam Project, where South Africa restated its commitment to purchase 5000MW of electricity from the proposed project, and the SA Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy is reported to be pressing ahead with their plans to procure power from the … [Read more...]
More transparency needed from national nuclear regulator
The Koeberg Alert Alliance and the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) say they are concerned about the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE) failure to appoint a representative of civil society to the National Nuclear Regulator’s board. According to these organisations, this lack of representation is contributing to the ongoing weak … [Read more...]
Virtual conference to focus on sustainable urban development
The 5th Local Climate Solutions for Africa (LoCS4Africa) Congress, ICLEI Africa’s flagship climate change event for cities, will take place online from 3 to 12 November 2020. This free-to-attend solution catalyst is the only pan-African event focused on African cities and finance to happen in 2020. It will contribute significantly to raising local climate action momentum on the … [Read more...]
Reclassifying toxic waste substances as ‘beneficial’
Barbara Dallas Creecy, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, hereby under regulation 6(3) of the Regulations regarding the exclusion of a waste stream or a portion of a waste stream from the definition of waste, 2018, published under Government Notice No. R.715 of Government Gazette No. 41777 of 18 July 2018, read with sections 72 and 73 of the National … [Read more...]
Somkhele environmental activist Fikile Ntshangase murdered
“I refused to sign. I cannot sell out my people. And if need be, I will die for my people.” Tragically, grandmother Fikile Ntshangase’s words became a reality when she was gunned down in her home at Ophondweni, near Mtubatuba, on the evening of 22 October 2020. Mama Ntshangashe was the Vice-Chairperson of a sub-committee of the Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice … [Read more...]
Positioning South Africa for a green recovery
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...]
Rushing rollout of untested technology very risky
The South African Government is rolling out 5G across our country without our consent. This technology has never been tested so in effect, you and your loved ones are guinea pigs. Why is this a problem? Because there is more than enough evidence on existing 4G and lower generation technologies to warrant a thorough examination of the potential dangers. The South African … [Read more...]
What does producer responsibility mean for your business?
The impending Section 18 regulations of the Waste Act are set to permanently alter the operating landscape for many South African industries – with a significant shift from voluntary to mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR means producers will be legally obligated to take financial and/or operational responsibility for collecting, sorting and treating their … [Read more...]
Protecting rural residents from toxic pesticides in the UK
With so much going on in the world many crucial political considerations, debates and decisions - both in the UK and globally - are currently taking place under the radar. A prime example of this is the outright condemnation in the UK House of Lords in July of the UK Government’s total failure to protect rural residents and communities from the cocktails of pesticides … [Read more...]
One more month to comment on internet censorship bill
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, recently extended the period for comment on the Draft Film and Publications Amendment Regulations, which align with the Films and Publications Amendment Act. Anti-censorship groups have dubbed this the “internet censorship bill” for seeking to regulate what it deems “harmful content” and to corral … [Read more...]
