A Global Methane Assessment released today by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) shows that human-caused methane emissions can be reduced by up to 45 per cent this decade. Such reductions would avoid nearly 0.3°C of global warming by 2045 and would be consistent with keeping the Paris Climate Agreement’s goal to limit … [Read more...]
New illegal forest concessions in the DRC
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...]
Global SO2 emissions dropped last year according to new report
Anthropogenic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions fell globally in 2019, reveals a new analysis of NASA satellite data by Greenpeace India and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). In 2019 human-made SO2 emissions fell in all three of the world’s top SO2 emitter countries - India, Russia and China - the report shows. "While heartening at first glance, the drop … [Read more...]
South Africa’s live cheetah export exposed
South Africa is well-known for its intensive captive lion breeding industry, but its captive cheetah breeding side has never received the same exposure. As with lions, captive bred cheetah cubs are taken away from their mothers within days of birth to be hand-reared, which starts the habituating process. They are then used for petting, walking with cheetahs, and as photo … [Read more...]
WWF calls for a halt to illegal wildlife trade
The world is currently grappling with the worst public health emergency in recent memory. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has brought the link between zoonotic diseases - those transmitted from animals to humans - and wildlife trade into sharp focus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the current COVID-19 pandemic, along with at least 61% of all human … [Read more...]
Can coronavirus save the African pangolins?
Wildlife conservationists and enthusiasts around the world have been celebrating an apparent silver lining in the latest coronavirus epidemic since the Xinhua News Agency in China reported earlier this month that researchers had found a 99% genetic match between a virus found in pangolins and the new human coronavirus. The hope of this finding is that humans, frightened of … [Read more...]
EWT responds to China’s illegal wildlife trade ban
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) welcomes the announcement by the Chinese Communist Party to enforce the ban on illegal wildlife trade and increase regulation of wildlife markets. Evidence points to wildlife markets as a source of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which has resulted in human and economic costs. The EWT emphasises their position that these markets pose … [Read more...]
Calling on Azores government to protect threatened sharks
Last year WILDOCEANS, a programme of the WILDTRUST, joined a global movement led by ‘Sharkproject International’ in a bid to put an end to shark finning. A letter was drafted and endorsed by 57 signatory parties from academia, retail, fisheries, the NPO sector and environmental government departments from all over the world. The letter was written to spread awareness about the … [Read more...]
Greenpop hosts global ambassador for ecosystem restoration
Thursday saw the highly anticipated presentation by John Dennis Liu, the internationally renowned ecologist, researcher and filmmaker, hosted at the Wild Spirit Backpackers Lodge. Greenpop, a tree planting organisation based in Cape Town, held their annual Eden Festival of Action where 5000 trees were planted over the past three weeks. As a means of reforestation after the … [Read more...]
Rhino awards recognises the people who protect wildlife
“It’s not whether animals will survive, it’s whether man has the will to save them.”- Anthony Douglas Williams. Africa’s wildlife is a vital part of the continent’s heritage. They are in many ways not a part of Africa, they are Africa. The increasing threats to Africa’s wildlife suggest that Africa could be in danger of losing a part of its identity. But there is hope. There … [Read more...]
Nominations for the 8th Rhino Conservation Awards are now open
Nominations for the 8th annual Rhino Conservation Awards have officially opened and are invited from the five rhino range states of Africa. The Rhino Conservation Awards will be presented at a Gala Dinner held at the Montecasino Ballroom in Johannesburg. Award finalists will be joined at the event by high-level dignitaries under the patronage of His Serene Highness Prince … [Read more...]
What happens to most of our PET bottles?
What is the largest end-use market for recycled PET plastic (called rPET) in South Africa? Polyester stable fibre. Propet is a polyester fibre manufacturer which produces fibre from recycled PET plastic bottles. Did you know that Propet is committed to cleaning up South Africa’s landfill sites by converting waste into high quality polyester fibre and promoting sustainability … [Read more...]
Shopping without plastic bags?
South Africa does not have a law banning plastic bags. However, to reduce littering and discourage customers from buying them, the plastic bag levy was increased in April by 50 percent to 12 cents per bag. SA department store chain Woolworths Holdings will be removing single-use plastic bags from one of its stores during a six-month trial period in a bid to end plastic … [Read more...]
