South Africa’s plan to raise $1 billion to kickstart the country’s hydrogen economy in partnership with Denmark and the Netherlands bodes well for a new energy future, says Dr Titus Mathe, CEO of the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI). The announcement that Denmark and the Netherlands would join forces with South Africa to raise $1 billion was made … [Read more...]
Helping nations gain steam on stronger climate goals
When the Conference of the Parties meets in Scotland this November for COP26 – assuming that they will, in some form or fashion – all eyes will be on the ambition levels of the revised national climate plans that are a part of the Paris Agreement. This meeting of the annual climate conference is where countries are being asked to bring forward ambitious 2030 emissions … [Read more...]
Join the climate action journey this Earth Day
Capetonians are familiar with the impacts of climate change due to the drought and the recent Table Mountain fire. In both instances, residents, businesses, organisations and government have worked together to make a difference. In the face of increasing climatic shocks and stresses, this is the kind of collaborative action that we need to become a more resilient … [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 eco festival 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 … [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...]
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...]
