UN climate chief Simon Stiell said on Wednesday that COP28 delegates are not in Dubai to “score points” and play at “lowest-denominator politics”; they must take ambitious action on curbing global warming and ending the climate crisis. Mr. Stiell’s strong message to government negotiators comes as the latest UN climate conference, running in the UAE’s main city, Dubai, since … [Read more...]
Global partners team up to protect threatened SA habitat
An influential partnership between international conservation organisations and South African NGO, the Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust (ORCT) has secured the protection of 500 hectares of globally important and Endangered habitat in the Overberg district of the Western Cape, South Africa – providing a lifeline for species that would otherwise be at risk of vanishing … [Read more...]
Greenpeace activists protest climate threat in Australia
Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists scaled a 140 metre crane next door to Woodside’s headquarters in Perth, Western Australia’s capital city yesterday, dropping a 25-metre banner reading “STOP WOODSIDE,” calling out the fossil fuel giant as Australia’s greatest climate threat. The three Greenpeace Australia Pacific climbers began the ascent in the early hours of the … [Read more...]
Progressive new alliance seeks personhood status for Antarctica
At COP28 the working group is campaigning for the recognition of the region's fundamental legal rights. This is an international team of 25 experts moving to safeguard Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The progressive new initiative was formally introduced in conjunction with the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, during the event “A Global Movement Advancing … [Read more...]
Africa’s crucial moment as COP28 kicks off
The Conference of Parties to the United Nation Framework on Climate Change (COP28) kicks off today in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The conference takes place in what is already known to be the hottest year ever recorded in human history and as the impacts of the climate crisis wreak unprecedented havoc on human life and livelihoods around the world. This year’s COP marks … [Read more...]
Addressing energy poverty in South Africa
As South Africa gears up to attend the 28th UN Climate Change Conference – also known as COP28, which will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December 2023 – the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) says that it is important to have an approach to climate change that centres on the most vulnerable, especially because … [Read more...]
What COP28 could mean for Africa
The 28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, more commonly referred to as COP28, brings together global leaders, experts, impacted communities and decision-makers to continue efforts aimed at solving the world’s climate challenges. COP28 unites attendees and diverse stakeholders with the aim to devise specific solutions … [Read more...]
Climate Change Bill opened for public comment
The Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources, and Energy invites you to comment on the Climate Change Bill. The Bill seeks to enable the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term, just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society for South Africa in the context of sustainable development. The Bill … [Read more...]
SA game changers honoured at the Eco-Logic Awards
There is an infectious feeling of optimism and comradery in the air when a group of like-minded individuals get together to celebrate the incredible work being done by local individuals, organisations, and communities to build a greener and more eco-logical world. And that’s exactly what the 2023 Eco-Logic Awards, which took place on 9 November at the Two Oceans Aquarium, is … [Read more...]
Powering up climate solutions with renewables
South African eco-justice activists joined the global movement Power Up for Climate Solutions to kick off a month (from 3 November to 9 December) of environmental and climate action in the lead up to COP28 outside Parliament on Friday. The Green Connection, African Climate Alliance, Extinction Rebellion, 350.org, and Project 90 by 2030 joined others around the world in a … [Read more...]
Civil society welcomes progress on the Climate Change Bill
The Life after Coal campaign welcomes the passing of the Climate Change Bill in the National Assembly, paving the way for it to go to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence. Once agreed to there, it can be signed into law by the President and become the country’s first Climate Change Act. This long-awaited legislation governs South Africa’s climate action and … [Read more...]
Fishers disappointed with DWOB oil and gas approval
The Green Connection and affected small-scale fishers say they are disappointed (but not surprised) with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE) approval of TotalEnergies’ Deep Western Orange Basin (DWOB) Oil and Gas drilling application on the West Coast. The Green Connection says it will appeal the decision. The Green Connection’s Community Outreach … [Read more...]
Government secrecy over coal plant decommissioning report
Civil society is concerned about National Treasury’s delay in releasing crucial information relevant to the future of coal-fired power plants in South Africa. Treasury announced in February this year that it had commissioned an independent review of Eskom’s 14 coal-fired power plants and that the review would be concluded by mid-2023. However, it has still not released … [Read more...]
