The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) says that it has mixed feelings about the priorities laid out by the Minister Tito Mboweni, in his Budget Speech today. While the multi-faith, environmental NGO is pleased that the 2019 Budget does not include any new nuclear, the Finance Minister’s response to climate change and environmental issues is … [Read more...]
Interfaith lovefest ‘brings hearts and minds together’
Nobody does pageantry like people of faith — and that was decidedly on display Thursday night as the 2015 Parliament of the World's Religions opened with a lengthy processional at the Salt Palace in downtown Salt Lake City. Chiefs from seven American Indian tribes, wearing traditional feathered headdresses and fur cloaks, led the way to the podium as a drum circle … [Read more...]
Bangladeshi Prime Minister wins UN climate prize
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh has been announced as one of the winners of the United Nations Champions of the Earth award in recognition of her country’s initiatives to address climate change. “Serving as Prime Minister of Bangladesh – one of the world’s least-developed countries – Sheikh Hasina has proven that investing in climate change is conducive to … [Read more...]
Understanding global change
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF), in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), recently hosted a three-day national conference on global change in Gauteng. Following the finalisation of the Global Change Implementation Framework, one of the decisions by the global change research and policy … [Read more...]
Freshwater ecosystem atlas launched this week
An atlas that contains mapped rivers, wetland and estuary priority areas in South Africa was launched by the Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, earlier this week. The Atlas of Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas in South Africa is the result of a project by the CSIR and a number of partners to determine which ecosystems in South Africa … [Read more...]
EU Parliament strengthens draft laws to ban GM crops
The European Parliament today voted to strengthen a draft EU law giving member states a new right to ban genetically modified (GM) crops from being grown in their territories. Greenpeace welcomes this positive outcome, but warns that national bans are no substitute for thorough safety testing at EU level. Greenpeace EU agriculture policy adviser Stefanie Hundsdorfer … [Read more...]
