As new evidence emerges internationally to show the efficacy of fossil fuel divestment for accelerating the global struggle to limit climate breakdown, Fossil Free SA has released its first report surveying SA institutions attempting to divest. Following a long-standing campaign by students and Fossil Free South Africa, the University of Cape Town (UCT) made a formal … [Read more...]
Colonising climate justice and neocolonial appropriation
Gandhi is famously quoted as saying, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." A step in the progression that seems missing though, is how your opponents will try to appropriate your language and pretend that a win for them is a win for the cause. When it comes to questions of climate justice, anti-imperialism and decolonisation, … [Read more...]
UCT divests from fossil fuels
Climate activist group Fossil Free South Africa (FFSA) is “heartened” by the University of Cape Town Council’s decision, announced today, to divert the university’s investments away from climate-destroying fossil fuels. The news was announced in the minutes of the latest meeting of the UCT Council, which last met on 12 March 2022. Council noted that it had previously agreed … [Read more...]
30% GHG emission reduction by 2030 not enough
In September 2021, Sasol announced disappointingly modest and self-contradictory plans to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% by 2030. As the company heads towards its 2021 shareholder AGM on 19 November, at which it will table its own non-binding vote on its emission reduction plans, this press briefing note outlines our response to Sasol’s latest targets. It’s no … [Read more...]
Call on UCT to divest from fossil fuels
After years of putting pressure on the University of Cape Town to divest from climate-breaking fossil fuels, the university has at last formally launched its responsible investment panel - the University Panel on Responsible Investment (UPRI) - and approved a Responsible and Sustainable Investment Policy! The panel has called for people to engage on fossil fuel divestment by … [Read more...]
Durban to drop fossil fuels from its investments
Fossil Free South Africa and 350 Africa congratulate the City of eThekwini/Durban on becoming the second South African city to commit to phasing out investments in climate-breaking fossil fuels. The eThekwini commitment was announced in late September, when the Mayors of Durban and Cape Town joined a group of 12 mayors from North America, Europe and Africa who promised “to … [Read more...]
Denmark’s biggest energy company is abandoning fossil fuels
How could you tell if there’s an energy transition underway? Just ask Dong Energy. The $154 billion fossil-fuel company is abandoning all fossil fuels and changing its name to Ørsted, to honor the discoverer of electromagnetism. Dong once stood for Danish Oil and Natural Gas. On Feb. 2, the company announced it will stop all use of coal by 2023. On Sep. 29, Dong sold all its … [Read more...]
The time has come for The Big Shift
Recent hurricanes in the Caribbean and the United States and devastating floods across South Asia are a stark reminder of the horrors that climate change will unleash if left unchecked. In 2016, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said that inaction on climate change 'would spell disaster for us, for our children and for the planet.' And yet, the World Bank Group continues to … [Read more...]
Let fossil fuel divestment set you free
“People of conscience need to break their ties with corporations financing the injustice of climate change,” said Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu during the countdown to the launch of Fossil Free SA, which started in Cape Town last week. His daughter, Rev. Mpho Tutu, was the keynote speaker at the launch. She spoke about how 25 years ago they launched the US divestment … [Read more...]
Investors to move money from dirty energy?
Some of our world's largest global investment funds are seriously considering dropping dirty energy. Ernest Pillay speaks with Kevin James of GCX Africa. Ernest Pillay: Investors are increasingly considering the decision to withdraw their investment in fossil fuel oil and gas companies. The latest to announce that they are considering a fossil fuel divestment plan is Norway, … [Read more...]
