The global economy must urgently transition away from business as usual to avert catastrophic climate change, writes Christine Reddell, Centre for Environmental Rights. The Paris Agreement on climate change delivered consensus that the global economy must urgently transition away from business as usual to avert catastrophic climate change. It is particularly in the energy … [Read more...]
A look at SA’s budding green economy
Historically, South Africa’s development path centred on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission-intensive mining and energy industries. The present-day SA government is committed to addressing climate change through a just transition towards an inclusive, environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient economy. The transition to a greener economy is embedded in national policy … [Read more...]
Call for urgent clarification of SA greenhouse gas objectives
A range of civil society organisations are taking their call for urgent clarification of greenhouse gas emissions objectives to the Public Protector. The complaint regards failure to implement provisions on mitigation in the National Climate Change Response White Paper, adopted by Cabinet in October 2011; most particularly the setting of “desired emission reduction outcomes” … [Read more...]
Comment sought on draft carbon-offset rules
National Treasury on Monday published the draft regulations on carbon offset in terms of the Draft Carbon Tax Bill for public comment and further consultation. The Carbon Offset Regulations were developed jointly by National Treasury, the Department of Energy and the Department of Environmental Affairs in terms of Sections 13 and 20 (b) of the Draft Carbon Tax Bill and sets … [Read more...]
What are the ACTUAL impacts of climate change on SA’s environment?
A group of South African scientists have presented radical evidence of fundamental changes in African ecosystems, which threaten the future of our savannas and their wildlife. Unlike in the northern hemisphere, the global driver that has the largest impact is not only global warming, but increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Increasing CO2, the scientists argue, is … [Read more...]
President Obama announces ambitious new climate target
President Obama has made a new commitment to curbing climate change: federal agencies must cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2025. Late last year, in an historic joint announcement with China, President Obama set an ambitious goal for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change – a clear sign that the United States’ commitment to leadership … [Read more...]
Altered marine food webs threaten food security
A new scientific analysis shows that urgent action is needed to reverse the tide of ecological decline in the ocean that threatens economies, societies and nature, says the Global Ocean Commission. The analysis, by leading marine scientists with the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), looks … [Read more...]
Greenpeace urges end to fossil fuel investments
A climate crisis that risks peace and security can still be avoided by accelerating the clean energy revolution, Greenpeace said on Tuesday. Issuing an SOS emergency alert ahead of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) meeting in Japan, Greenpeace warned that climate change is already devastating nations, destroying lives and costing billions of dollars in … [Read more...]
Climate change fuelled storms cost China $2.6 bln in 2013
Climate change fuelled storm waves and rising sea levels cost China 16.3 billion yuan ($2.6 bln) and killed 121 people in 2013, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said. China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases which scientists say is driving climate change. Southern Guangdong province was hit hardest, recording 7.4 billion yuan worth of damage, the SOA … [Read more...]
Cutting carbon dioxide with carbon dioxide
Let’s jump right into this. If CO2 had significant commercial value, that is, it was used extensively by industry for a large number of purposes, then fossil fuel power plant operators might be easily convinced that capturing and selling the greenhouse gas would make more sense than letting it go into the atmosphere: If there were profits in smoke stack CO2, then they wouldn’t … [Read more...]
Carbon Tax for Real Change
South Africa's proposed carbon tax is set to act as just another tax on South Africans while inadequately addressing issues of climate change - the very problem it was designed to address. This is because the revenue generated will not be earmarked to tackle issues of climate change, rather it will simply flow into government coffers. Because of this many claim that the tax … [Read more...]
Time is running out for our children
'Although South Africa has outlined ambitious targets to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, time is indeed running out to secure our children's future. Climate Change is one of the greatest threats to the survival of the human species on this planet, and both urgent and meaningful action is required to combat it,' so says Kevin James of the Carbon Protocol of South Africa, on … [Read more...]
