Greenpeace Africa calls on the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, to order the immediate cancellation of four illegal forest concession contracts signed last June 11 by the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Claude Nyamugabo. Greenpeace Africa calls on the public prosecutor to open proceedings. In an action brought by civil … [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...]
Fossil fuel divestment: will UCT finally heed the call?
It is now six years since Fossil Free SA first called on the University of Cape Town (UCT) to phase out all investments in climate-destroying fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. In those six years, the global fossil fuel divestment movement has grown from a handful of institutions to well over a thousand, including New York, Paris, London, our own city of Cape Town; a whole … [Read more...]
Writing love letters to our rapidly dwindling forests
This summer, the world lost a Nebraska-size chunk of forests. Logging, expanding palm oil plantations and wildfires are to blame. This continuing deforestation trend could have devastating implications for the climate. Simply put, forests aren’t merely pretty places. We need them. Dense tropical forests keep the climate stable by sucking up large amounts of human carbon … [Read more...]
COP22 climate talks set 2018 deadline to agree rules
Nearly 200 nations agreed around midnight on Friday to work out the rules for a landmark 2015 global deal to tackle climate change within two years in a new sign of international support. At the end of two-week talks on global warming in Marrakesh, which were extended an extra day, many nations appealed to US President-elect Donald Trump, who has called climate change a … [Read more...]
What does the Trump presidency mean for climate change?
This is happening. Donald Trump is going to be president of the United States. And there’s no way around it: What he’s planning to do looks like an absolute disaster for the planet (and the people on it). Specifically, all the fragile but important progress the world has made on global warming over the past eight years is now in danger of being blown up. Trump has been … [Read more...]
Anglican Church of Southern Africa to divest from fossil fuels
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Angola Mozambique and Namibia) passed a motion at their Provincial Synod to divest from fossil fuels. Following the Paris Climate Change agreement, it is vital that global warming does not pass a 2° degree increase, otherwise this could lead to catastrophic climate change. The Province is already … [Read more...]
Moving the world from sustainability to regenerative design
Communication is the tool we use to navigate change in this perishable, impermanent world. We talk about what’s happening and what’s coming. We use words to rally and activate citizens; to inform and educate people; to alleviate or aggravate fears, depending on our intentions. Humans use language to make sense of things — even those things that are happening at a scale beyond … [Read more...]
World leaders to sign Paris climate agreement on Earth Day
This year, over one billion people in 192 countries will take action to protect our shared environment. All across the globe, in big cities to small villages and everything in-between, people are organizing, demanding climate action, cleaning up their local communities, meeting with their elected officials, planting trees, and teaching their children to protect our … [Read more...]
More immediate steps needed for effective climate action
World governments finalized a global agreement today in Paris that lays a foundation for long-term efforts to fight climate change. More effort is needed to secure a path that would limit warming to 1.5C. This new agreement should be continuously strengthened and governments will need to go back home and deliver actions at all levels to close the emissions gap, resource the … [Read more...]
The Paris paradox
Guerilla art group Brandalism's new project in Paris exposes some uncomfortable truths and a paradox that lies at the heart of the Paris talks: That businesses and governments are both the problem and the solution. Visitors and delegates descending on Paris over the past week for the United Nations climate change talks might have spotted some thought-provoking ads installed … [Read more...]
Making peace with the earth
The tragedy of 13th November 2015 in Paris calls on all of humanity to respond to the escalating and vicious cycles of violence by creating virtuous circles of peace. The recent horrific attacks in Paris, Beirut and Egypt's Sinai peninsular make it all the more imperative that we came together in solidarity for the future of humanity and Mother Earth. Governments under … [Read more...]
Climate smart agriculture remains key to Africa’s Development
How will African farmers cope with climate change and become more resilient? How will they ensure food security? Collaboration by various stakeholders including governments, NGOs and research bodies is needed now to rapidly scale-up the African agricultural sector to improve food security and resilience to climate change,” says Estherine Fotabong, NEPAD Programmes Director, … [Read more...]
