Oceans Not Oil has started a petition calling on Minister for the Environment Barbara Creecy, to withdraw her approval of Italian oil corporation ENI and Sasol’s application (ER236), for exploratory drilling offshore of Richards Bay and Scottburgh. These companies, with poor safety reputations, were given the go ahead to drill at record depths in the Agulhas Current, known … [Read more...]
NEMWA amendments aimed at increased recycling
Waste management and plastic recycling are significant challenges in South Africa and recent amendments to Section 18 of the National Environmental Management and Waste Act (NEMWA) regulations call for Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) to cooperate with municipalities to increase the recovery and recycling of identified products. The current practice is that … [Read more...]
Urgent action needed to prevent fatal nature loss
Hundreds of millions of people across the globe are showing their rising concern about nature. New global research, conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and commissioned by WWF, shows that public interest in, and concern for nature has risen markedly (16%) in the past five years and continues to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic. The figures came ahead of … [Read more...]
EU Commission includes fossil fuels in green taxonomy proposal
For the last year, Central and Eastern European governments have been pressuring the EU to include less restrictive criteria for biomass energy production and to recognise natural gas as a transition fuel towards climate neutrality. They may have realised their ambitions with the current draft of the EU Sustainable Taxonomy proposal. Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) will be … [Read more...]
SA researchers shortlisted in international forestry research award
Three South African researchers have made it to the global shortlist of the Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation Awards. They were selected from 14 candidates in the South African round. The awards, launched in 2016 by the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA), aim to recognise, celebrate and promote innovations being developed in the global … [Read more...]
Educational video series presents climate solutions
Climate Solutions 101 is a free video series filled with the latest need-to-know science and fascinating insights from global leaders in climate policy, research, investment and beyond. Rather than rehashing well-known climate challenges, Project Drawdown highlights game-changing climate action based on its own rigorous scientific review and assessment. This course, … [Read more...]
WHO urged to lower electromagnetic exposure limits
A group of bioelectromagnetics experts have written a letter to World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus with grave concerns about the public health and environmental impacts of exponentially increasing use of wireless radiating devices relying on radio frequencies and extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields throughout the world … [Read more...]
Protest aims to educate about the perils of 5G
While enticing ads for 5G are increasingly ruling the airwaves, scientists, communities and organizations around the world are rising up to oppose 5G technology proposed on every street corner and in space. An international effort has been launched to offer a reality check on 5G and educate others that this untested technology threatens our health, safety, property values, … [Read more...]
SA’s health and wellbeing are at stake
On July 22, 2020 Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams gazetted a new policy on the development of communications networks in South Africa. The motivation for promoting 5G electronic communications networks ‘was for the creation of a digital economy and society’, she said at the time. Activists have criticized the draft policy, that will … [Read more...]
EU Sustainable Taxonomy must be rooted in climate science
The global climate strikes have consistently made a simple demand: listen to the science. We agree. Just as experts and evidence have been key assets in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, so too must they, and not sectoral interests, determine our policies to fight the climate crisis. WWF Central and Eastern Europe, along with a coalition of NGOs, think-tanks, experts and … [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...]
Imagining a just recovery in South Africa
For many climate justice advocates, the trajectory of the Covid-19 pandemic is unsurprising, as it mirrors the very systems and structures that underpin the climate crisis. A new report by the Institute for Economic Justice, 350Africa and the Climate Justice Coalition attempts to show the way to a Just Recovery. The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically altered the lives of the … [Read more...]
Clarity needed on biodegradable and compostable plastics
“Bioplastics” is a term that frequently arises in the media and public domain, and is often touted as the answer to the plastic pollution problem. Unfortunately, the term is often incorrectly used to describe a few different concepts, which can create a lot of confusion in the marketplace. Plastics can be made from either fossil-based (derived from petrochemicals) or … [Read more...]
