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...]
NGOs release list of world’s top coal plant developers
Four days before the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) puts forward its special report on 1.5°C, NGOs have released a new list of the world’s top 120 coal plant developers. “Building new coal plants is an assault on the Paris climate goals,” says Heffa Schuecking, director of the German environment NGO Urgewald. “Our list names the top companies investors and … [Read more...]
Vietnam on red alert in anticipation of worst storm in years
Doksuri is forecast to hit Vietnam on Friday night with wind speeds of at least 118kph. Vietnam has been put on red alert as it braces for a giant tropical storm that is forecast to hit the country this week with wind speeds of at least 118 kilometers per hour. Officials said at a meeting on Wednesday that Doksuri, the 10th storm to form in the South China Sea (which … [Read more...]
Typhoon Talim bringing wind and floods to China and Taiwan
A strengthening tropical system has its eyes set on Taiwan and eastern China during the second half of this week. Talim is currently a typhoon about 400 miles east of Taiwan. Further intensification is expected as Talim tracks to the northwest towards Taiwan through late Wednesday. “Favorable environmental conditions along the path of Talim will allow the typhoon to … [Read more...]
The denim industry’s dirty little secret
Pollution from the world’s largest denim companies like Wrangler, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein is contributing to the terrible air quality that’s killing 4,400 people every single day in China, SumOfUs reports. And worst yet, these companies won’t reveal how much toxic carbon they’re spewing into the atmosphere from burning coal — one of the key contributors to both … [Read more...]
Let’s lock in climate progress
In 67 days, President Trump could go to war with climate action. But governments are at their annual climate summit right now. If we act fast, we could get them to lock in progress before he can destroy everything we worked for. Germany, China, India, Brazil, the climate vulnerable countries, and others are reasserting their commitment to the Paris climate deal. But if … [Read more...]
Apple commits to zero environmental waste in China
Apple announced on Wednesday that all 14 of its final assembly sites in China are now compliant with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) zero waste standards. “It means that all the manufacturing waste from the 14 facilities is either reused, recycled, or composted,” said Lisa Jackson, vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives at Apple. The tech giant now … [Read more...]
Can human urine replace chemical fertilizers?
The Rich Earth Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont, is likely the only organization measuring success in gallons of urine. In 2012, Kim Nace, Rich Earth’s administrative director and partner Abe Noe-Hays collected 600 gallons of urine from friends and neighbors. The next year, the organization brought in about 3,000 gallons from 170 human volunteers. Rebecca Rueter, a board … [Read more...]
Help protect the world’s last pristine ocean
There is one almost completely untouched body of water on our planet - a magical place where majestic blue whales, penguins, and mysterious squid roam free. But this paradise - the size of Germany, France and the UK combined - could soon be lost. Hunters have already massacred thousands of endangered whales in Antarctica’s Ross Sea, now massive industrial fishing fleets want … [Read more...]
It’s time to break free from fossil fuels
There has never been a better time to break free from fossil fuels. Record-breaking global temperatures, plummeting fossil-fuel prices, historic investments in renewable energy, and global pressure to honour climate pledges are all coming together to create the ideal setting for this world-changing shift. The shift could not be more urgent. The United Nations climate … [Read more...]
Shenhua coalmine given go-ahead to destroy koala habitat
The Shenhua Watermark coal mine has cleared its final legal hurdle after legal action against it was dismissed. The Land and Environment Court threw out a challenge from the Upper Mooki community group, which argued the project was too great a threat to local koala populations. The Chinese-backed mine, planned for New South Wales' Liverpool Plains region, was approved by … [Read more...]
Meet the woman leading China’s new organic farming army
We'd been driving for an hour and a half since leaving central Beijing when the car suddenly slowed to a halt. "This isn't exactly where the GPS told me to go, but I think it's the place," says the driver. I look out the window and see a simple wooden archway leading to a plain, one-storey building. The facade is bare except for some words painted in black capital letters. … [Read more...]
65 organizations looking for marine litter solutions
Plastic packaging is a huge contributor to marine litter. Now the plastics industry has created a Global Declaration for Solutions to Marine Litter. Packaging SA is in full support of the drive to prevent marine litter and they are the latest signatory to the Declaration. “We recognise that plastic packaging is a major contributor to marine litter and consequently feel … [Read more...]
