As the world reassesses its future after a difficult 2020, a cast of unforgettable characters is ready to take society on a journey of enquiry into intriguing scenarios that will enable people to explore their future financial lives, vicariously, through story. The provocative Upshot anthology of thought-provoking fiction for financial reality, by a group of top fiction … [Read more...]
Inga 3 project going ahead amid COVID-19 pandemic
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) concluded a week-long conference in June earlier this year on the beleaguered Grand Inga Dam Project, where South Africa restated its commitment to purchase 5000MW of electricity from the proposed project, and the SA Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy is reported to be pressing ahead with their plans to procure power from the … [Read more...]
Concern over Minister Gwede Mantashe’s fixation on nuclear power
Extinction Rebellion South Africa shares the concern voiced by many people and organizations over Minister Gwede Mantashe’s unreasonable fixation on nuclear power. In May, Minister Mantashe said, when addressing the Portfolio Committee: “We are going to explore all options, when there is appetite for nuclear in the market, we will go ahead with it.” Is that a sound plan? Why … [Read more...]
South Africa’s renewables industry growth is fastest in the world
In 2015 SA had the world’s fastest growing green economy! This news broke at the countdown to Windaba. Moody's Corporation’s report shows the highest growth year-on-year globally for asset finance at 300%, totalling $4.5 billion (ZAR 63 billion) in 2015. In another industry affirming move this week, President Jacob Zuma clarified the government's position on the Independent … [Read more...]
Rich-poor climate reconciliation in sight at UN talks
The UN climate process is a complex beast, but at its heart lies a debate over the balance of responsibilities between rich and poor. It’s a pointed subject right now as the global climate change architecture is being reconfigured, with December’s Paris summit the endgame venue. In previous deals, the 42 countries deemed industrialised in 1992, plus post-Soviet states, … [Read more...]
Solving the Eskom problem and poverty simultaneously
The South African government’s plan to spend almost R1 trillion on nuclear power, and the nuclear agreements between SA and China, Russia, France, Korea have got me thinking. Imagine this scenario. The Russian state-run bank lends SA R1 trillion. SA pays this 1 trillion straight back to the Russian State-run Nuclear company Rosatom who spends a portion of this on building … [Read more...]
Cost of climate change high on Davos agenda
From within the Davos Congress Center, you can see skiers racing down the slopes outside of the World Economic Forum. Looking at the snow outside, some participants might wonder why there's so much talk about global warming. Not so Christiana Figueres. Standing in the snow, the UN climate chief said she is pleased the topic is so high on the agenda at Davos. "The risk of … [Read more...]
State intends to go ahead with fracking
In a General Notice, published by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Bomo Edna Molewa, dated 23 August 2013, there is a clear indication that the state intends to allow exploration for the purposes of shale gas production. The process used to obtain shale gas is colloquially referred to as "fracking". The Minister has also reiterated in a press briefing in … [Read more...]
Sharing lifts, reducing costs, saving energy
Findalift.co.za is all about encouraging South Africans to share journeys, and the benefits are significant! Readers of the Green Times are encouraged to visit Findalift.co.za, register free and add your journey. It’s secure, takes less than 5 minutes and no personal data about you is visible to anyone or shared with any 3rd party. There are so many people driving on … [Read more...]
New balance sheet for wealth of nations
The world’s fixation on economic growth ignores a rapid and largely irreversible depletion of natural resources, which will seriously harm future generations. This is according to a report, which on 17 June in Rio, unveiled a new indicator aimed at encouraging sustainability - the Inclusive Wealth Index (IWI). True state of the nation's wealth The IWI, which looks beyond … [Read more...]
Price of water could increase by 45% in 2 years
The hospitality and leisure industry will need to pull in its belt to meet the challenges of increased water tariffs, announced by the Department of Water Affairs’ long term investment plan released earlier this week. This is the opinion of the Heritage Environmental Management Company, Africa’s leading tourism-based environmental certification brand. This plan will see … [Read more...]
Slow Food Movement puts health and pleasure back into food
Sick and tired of the hustle and bustle of city life? Family members sometimes only see each other on weekends. Incidents of stress-related illnesses increase annually. The purchase, preparation and use of food is just another of the hectic actions that need to take place on a daily basis. Convenient food is often the only and fastest answer. Even on farms, quad bikes and … [Read more...]
No ‘clowning’ about climate change
On October 10, 2010, millions of people across the globe got together to work towards solving climate crisis as part of the global 'Work Party'. There were more than 7000 events taking place in 183 countries. 350.org 'Green Bay' Global Climate Change Awareness Campaign, co-ordinated by ETC-Africa, hosted at Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre over the weekend, made a huge … [Read more...]
