The industrial slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has not curbed record levels of greenhouse gases which are trapping heat in the atmosphere, increasing temperatures and driving more extreme weather, ice melt, sea-level rise and ocean acidification, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The lockdown has cut emissions of many pollutants and greenhouse … [Read more...]
Bold action and strategies required to tackle climate change
The City of Cape Town’s draft Climate Change Strategy is available for public comment from 1 to 30 September 2020. Climate change is a global threat and Cape Town is particularly vulnerable. Residents and interested parties are encouraged to please participate in this process. It is the City’s vision to create an urban environment that is climate resilient, resource … [Read more...]
Time to end consumption-driven capitalism
Here follows the final statement of the 2020 Ecosocialist Conference for Climate Justice, which took place online last week: The corona pandemic has exposed the fragility of the neoliberal global economy. We will face yet another wave of austerity and unemployment, as pro-business governments raise taxes and slash spending, just as they did after the financial crash of 2008. … [Read more...]
Green music festival rocks
The Green Times attended Rocking the Daisies, which was not only good for our souls, but also good for the environment. “You use things faster than they reproduce,” Andy le May reprimanded the crowd of keen listeners huddled against the wind at the Rocking the Daisies Hemp stage. This founder of icologie says that we have the power to live sustainably and happily now, but … [Read more...]
Have a gas without costing the earth
If you’re looking for a world-class tourism experience that will not only be kind to your pocket but will also ease your Earth-conscious concerns, you’ll find a winner in City Sightseeing’s double-decker open-top tours. One can’t miss seeing the good-looking big red busses in and around Cape Town with the inevitable happy faces staring around from the open deck on top and I … [Read more...]
Is carbon neutral farming possible?
How on earth do you farm intensively without producing carbon dioxide? A colleague tells me about Backsberg's carbon neutrality (since 2006) and I hear something about it on the radio. A whole new concept for me. I'm making an appointment with Mr Michael Back. His first question to me: "How serious are you about organic farming?" It catches me off guard and I mumble … [Read more...]
Africa’s climate change heroes recognised
Significantly greater response to the threats of climate change resulted in the toughest year yet for judges of the Climate Change Leadership Awards, who announced the 10 category winners at a carbon neutral event in Sandton recently. This green competition and awards is the first in Africa to recognise, reward, motivate and celebrate businesses, communities, youth, schools … [Read more...]
Green bank shows commitment to water protection
Water is the critical issue that has been taken under the wing of South Africa’s greenest bank. Following the Nedbank Group’s achievement of carbon neutrality, the group has targeted water as a key focus of its sustainability efforts – with particular emphasis on access, quality and quantity as a three-pronged approach to effective water stewardship and the achievement of … [Read more...]
Green lungs for Africa
A responsible corporate company joins hands with an environmental NGO to take on the cause of sustainable forestry in Uganda. Nedbank Capital and Face the Future have signed a pioneering Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to facilitate future collaboration between the two companies with the sole intention of enabling them to jointly develop sustainable forestry projects … [Read more...]
A bright sun spells climate action
During the Midlands Moving Planet – Day of Global Action to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels, uMngeni residents signed a petition asking the local Municipality to make the move to a sustainable future. As part of the celebration of current sunlight and renewable energy, local children painted bright sun shapes on which the demands were written. Around the world people demanded the … [Read more...]
How carbon neutrality becomes reality
It seems an impossible dream for a car rental company to even consider becoming carbon neutral, when one thinks of the emissions for which its products are responsible on a daily basis. This however, calls for proactive engagement with its vehicle suppliers and company action on its own emissions, something that Avis Rent a Car set out to achieve. 'We were only too aware … [Read more...]
Good, clean carbon credits
Nedbank, the only bank in South Africa to go carbon neutral, has offset its carbon emissions with a multi-million rand forest conservation and community upliftment deal in the Kasigau Wildlife Corridor in Kenya. Known as the Rukinga Deal, because the Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the corridor, it is the first project in Africa to receive gold-level validation … [Read more...]
Waste wood burning: eco fire for winter
When blankets and woolly socks just don't cut it anymore during winter time, we switch on our carbon-emitting heaters. This is no good for our already disturbing carbon escalation, so alternatives we have to find,. Which is what we did this week when we discovered a new closed fire eco-heating stove by T and T Energy Solutions. We went to see this clever device at the German … [Read more...]
