The immense socio-economic impact under one of the world’s most extreme lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in South Africans uniting for their voices to be heard under a grassroots movement called Move One Million. The movement, launched in July 2020, has garnered interest from half a million South Africans to date and organisers are using a combination of … [Read more...]
What does Greenpeace’s tuna triumph mean for our oceans?
It took two years of relentless campaigning and nearly 700,000 concerned people from around the world, but Greenpeace have finally convinced the world’s largest tuna company to clean up its act! Tuna giant Thai Union, which owns brands such as John West, Chicken of the Sea, Petit Navire, Mareblu, and Sealect, has committed to a series of changes to its business that will … [Read more...]
Environmental Media Award winners announced
Congratulations to the environmental journalists who won this year's SAB Environmental Media and Media Environmentalist Awards. The Awards, in their 27th year, recognise the excellence of South African journalists who are reporting on and creating awareness of environmental issues. The South African Breweries (SAB), together with a panel of judges from within the media … [Read more...]
Join the climate fast
Elma Pollard and the Green Times has joined the Climate Fast on the first day of every month to stand with thousands of others fasting for action on climate change. A growing movement of youth, environmentalists and people of faith are showing their strength of commitment by going without food once a month to call for world leaders to do more to solve the climate crisis. Why … [Read more...]
Image series shows ozone hole development since 1979
The stratospheric ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet light, which damages DNA in plants and animals (including humans) and leads to skin cancer. Prior to 1979, scientists had not observed concentrations below 220 Dobson Units. But in the early 1980s, through a combination of ground-based and satellite measurements, scientists began to realize that … [Read more...]
Global retailer commits to No Deforestation
Belgium-based international retailer Delhaize Group has become the first supermarket chain in the world to commit to a No Deforestation Policy with full traceability. The move follows public pressure in Belgium and just three days after Greenpeace launched a global campaign demanding an end to forest destruction for palm oil. “This is a win for consumers in Belgium and … [Read more...]
Interconnections imply enhanced systemic risks
“Our lives are changing at an unprecedented pace. Transformational shifts in our economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal and technological systems offer unparalleled opportunities, but the interconnections among them also imply enhanced systemic risks. Stakeholders from across business, government and civil society face an evolving imperative in understanding and … [Read more...]
SA cities in the running for global eco challenge
Two South African cities have been selected as finalists in the 2014 World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Earth Hour City Challenge, a global competition that recognises the substantial long-term efforts of cities to combat climate change. The two contenders – Cape Town and Durban – were among six South African cities that participated in a collaborative programme between WWF … [Read more...]
The rich are choosing a bleak future for humanity
It’s not too late to avert a climate crisis but “pervasive human short-termism” makes it highly unlikely that society will do so in the next 40 years. “Starvation of the poor is one of the inevitable consequences predicted, if we continue to live in a democractic system, where the major focus is on short-term gratification and crafting the best possible life for yourself,” … [Read more...]
SA municipalities commit to sustainable energy action
Over 45 representatives from national, provincial, and local government, research organisations, NGO’s and the private sector joined ICLEI Africa last month in Ekurhuleni to formally launch the start of the South African component of ICLEI’s flagship global project “Promoting Urban Low Emission Development Strategies in emerging economy countries,” or “Urban-LEDS.” Hosted by … [Read more...]
Mike Horn’s odyssey hits the Mother City
Mike Horn arrived in Cape Town, as part of a four-year global odyssey to inspire young people to clean up and protect the planet. One of the most remarkable voyages of exploration ever undertaken – the four-year Pangaea trans-navigation of the globe by sea and land – was launched by South African Eco-Adventurer-Explorer Mike Horn in Monaco just over four years ago. The … [Read more...]
Fracking should be banned everywhere
Hydraulic Fracturing, commonly known as Fracking, is a highly controversial method of extracting oil and gas from existing, redundant and new wells. Drilling has begun in an unregulated frenzy from USA, China and now heading for gas-rich Europe and other countries around the world. The environment and human health is at very serious and potential risk if this method of … [Read more...]
Time to move the planet before it’s too late
We knew Moving Planet would move - we just didn't know how fast. It feels like it's going 82.8 miles per hour (which happens to be the fastest speed ever recorded on a bicycle). In the week since we launched this global day of action, we've already heard from hundreds of organizers in every corner of the planet who are making plans for September 24. Wherever you happen to … [Read more...]
