DeepGreen Metals Inc., today announced it has formalized partnerships with leading scientific research institutions and internationally-renowned universities in a significant investment into its ongoing deep-sea discovery program to characterize the potential impacts of lifting polymetallic nodules up from the bottom of the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the Pacific … [Read more...]
NPO’s take a stand to halt offshore oil drilling
WILDOCEANS is one of several organisations including Oceans Not Oil, South Durban Community Environmental Association and Green Connection, who have submitted comment opposing the proposed offshore exploration drilling and associated activities by oil company TOTAL. There are procedural, climatic, socio-economic and ecological concerns that WILDOCEANS have raised linked to … [Read more...]
Latest oil spill further evidence of fossil fuels’ destructive risks
The arrival of the Deepsea Stavanger oil drilling rig in Cape Town yesterday has many people concerned about the risks that come along with it, especially as the current oil spill disaster in Mauritius (SA’s backyard, photographed to the right) continues to wreak havoc. It is with this in mind that The Green Connection – an NGO working to support and empower local communities … [Read more...]
The Green Connection and its partners celebrate a win for civil society
Civil society recently celebrated a win when SLR Consulting, on behalf of Total E&P South Africa (TEPSA), granted respondents a 30-day extension to comment on the Draft Scoping Report for further oil exploration and drilling in Block 11B/12B, along the country’s South coast. The NGO The Green Connection and its partners recently attended a severely flawed public … [Read more...]
Between the drillers and the deep blue sea
Environmental attorneys Adrian Pole and Kirsten Youens have lodged a detailed appeal on behalf of WILDOCEANS with the Environment, Forestry and Fishery (DEFF) Minister Barbara Creecy, challenging an authorisation granted by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to authorize foreign mining giants Eni and Sasol to drill six exploration oil wells at two deep sea locations in … [Read more...]
Go-ahead for controversial oil project off KZN coast
Marches, protests and objections to plans to drill for gas and oil along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline over the past few years have come to naught. The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has granted environmental authorisation to the Italian energy group, Eni, and Sasol Africa to conduct exploratory drilling in the Durban and Zululand basins, covering a total offshore area … [Read more...]
African businesses urged to dive into Blue Economy
African businesses are being challenged to wake up to the economic, social and environmental power of the Blue Economy. Africa Blue Economy Forum (ABEF) comes to Tunis on June 25-26; Confirmed speakers include Government ministers and officials from Gabon, Ghana, Morocco, Somaliland, Tunisia and Seychelles; Aims to raise awareness of the economic, social and environmental … [Read more...]
SA parliament finds “no persuasive arguments against nuclear”
Yesterday, the Portfolio Committee on Energy (PCE) delivered its report on the Department of Energy’s (DoE) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), to Parliament. According to the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI), Parliament has once again failed to act in the people’s best interest, stating that it found “no persuasive arguments against … [Read more...]
Proposed offshore KZN oil drilling strongly opposed
These are many of the reasons ONO objects to how the EIA process has been handled for the Sasol / ENI proposed exploration for 2019 off the KZN coastline. This letter serves to lodge an objection to the proposed exploration for the reasons listed below. It also serves to highlight numerous contentious issues with this DEIAR process. Our primary concern is that there is clear … [Read more...]
BP drilling offshore Nova Scotia: the next Gulf Coast disaster?
Nova Scotians are expressing alarm at news that BP commissioned rig West Aquarius is now en route to drill offshore, despite not having final approval from the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB). “This is the height of regulatory capture,” says John Davis, Director of Clean Ocean Action Committee. “It is costing BP $260,000 a day to move this rig, why would … [Read more...]
Climate litigation creates a strong mandate for global climate action
Two years ago, a courageous law student, Sarah Thomson (pictured, right), sued the New Zealand Government over its weak climate targets. Now she’s made history. On 2 November, 2017, the High Court of New Zealand issued a game-changing ruling. It found that climate change presents significant risks and government actions on climate change are subject to judicial scrutiny. The … [Read more...]
Rockefeller lambasts Exxon as “morally reprehensible”
"Morally reprehensible" is what the oil giant Exxon Mobil's conduct on climate change was called during the harshest public rebuke yet by the Rockefeller Family Fund. In their letter to the public, the Rockefeller organisation criticised Exxon for their attempts to “confuse the public about climate change’s march, while simultaneously spending millions to fortify its own … [Read more...]
Ocean economy to contribute R20 billion by 2019
Government will implement ocean economy projects which are expected to contribute more than R20 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2019. "Going forward, delivery units have been established in the lead departments to drive the implementation of the detailed delivery plans. We will achieve the growth and the jobs we need in the economy," President Jacob Zuma … [Read more...]
