Eskom’s on-going scapegoating of renewable energy as the reason behind its financial woes shows a lack of vision, particularly in the light of the urgent need to develop new jobs beyond the coal industry. Instead, the utility should be leading the country into a greener, more equitable energy future which will help South Africa both create new, cleaner jobs and meet its … [Read more...]
This Earth Hour, shine a light on climate action
Earth Hour is the world’s biggest grassroots movement for the environment. This year the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is shining a light on one of the most challenging issue of our times – climate change. We know that awareness leads to action and action leads to change which is why we are throwing down the gauntlet to all South Africans to take individual or group … [Read more...]
Achieving practical sustainable goals for South Africa
We have constantly been made aware of the dangers of climate change in recent years, as global temperatures continue to rise and natural disasters affect human settlement more frequently. The dialogue of world leaders repeatedly emphasises the need to focus on the development of a green economy to ensure the wellbeing of our planet. In working towards achieving the county’s … [Read more...]
Great events planned for this year’s Earth Hour
Earth Hour 2015 will be held on Saturday 28 March between 8.30PM and 9.30PM in your local time zone. The event is held worldwide towards the end of March annually, encouraging individuals, communities households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 … [Read more...]
Cape Town crowned the world’s Earth Hour Capital for sustainability efforts
Cape Town is the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) Global Earth Hour’s City Capital for 2014. The announcement was made at a ceremony in Vancouver, Canada – which won the award in 2013. This accolade is a prestigious honour that recognises the city’s innovative actions on climate change and its dedication to pursuing the goal of a sustainable urban environment. Cape Town … [Read more...]
Prayer for Earth Hour
Lord, you often spoke of your 'hour,' the hour of a new consciousness, the season of a new way of being human, a decisive moment in history - Wake us up in this 'hour' of our days; remind us that our future is connected to the earth and all its abundant life. May we act selflessly in this hour with a new sensitivity to life in all its variety, And not just for today, but for … [Read more...]
Green hotel gets the most out of Earth Hour
It seems that guests are enjoying the eco-conscious reminders Hotel Verde have introduced as part of their holistic, sustainable vision. Not only does the hotel implement a range of green operational practices, but they have recently introduced a weekly Earth Hour that gets guests actively involved in their green thinking. Samantha Annandale, Hotel Verde’s general manager, … [Read more...]
‘Honour the Earth’ for Earth Hour 2014
Throughout March – and ahead of Earth Hour on 29 March 2014 – the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) is sending out a powerful call to action by asking: ‘How do you honour the Earth?’ Beyond the 60 minutes of darkness, Earth Hour is much more than simply switching off lights for an hour once a year. It’s a growing international movement of citizen-driven action … [Read more...]
Cities show their climate change commitment
The international Earth Hour City Challenge is giving South Africa's cities the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to addressing climate change. The Challenge was launched by WWF South Africa last month and is designed to reward cities long-term efforts to combat climate change by registering their data on the carbon Cities Climate Registry (cCCR). The Registry … [Read more...]
A candle for Earth Hour
In support of WWF's global eco-friendly campaign, Earth Hour, Amarula has come up with a special lantern that has been designed to hold a single candle, so users can switch out the lights at 8.30pm on Saturday 31 March 2012, for 60 minutes. Over 135 countries or territories worldwide will celebrate Earth Hour, including iconic landmarks such as Table Mountain, the Eiffel … [Read more...]
Corporate support swells for Earth Hour
Thousands of offices at some of the world's leading corporations supported WWF's Earth Hour 'lights out' initiative this year, joining the call for effective action on climate change. Companies encouraged staff to join the hundreds of millions of other individuals from every continent who turned their lights off for one hour at 8.30 pm on Saturday, 27 March. The … [Read more...]
Stellenbosch switches off at Earth Hour street dinner
Stellenbosch celebrated an inaugural Earth Hour outdoor dinner at tables down the middle of streets closed to traffic in the historical centre of town. Church and Andringa streets turned into an earth party as 8 restaurants participated in feeding concerned folk in sync with the biggest global action ever for Earth. Stellenbosch was one of 4000 cities and towns across the … [Read more...]
South Africans saved 350mw during Earth Hour
South Africans showed their power to save electricity when they switched off their lights for this past Earth Hour (Saturday 26 March), saving 350MW - enough electricity to power the city of Bloemfontein (aka Mangaung). As part of its support for the Earth Hour campaign, Eskom measured the reduction in electricity used during the hour against typical consumption for this … [Read more...]