Following the devastating impact which the Covid-19 pandemic has had on South Africa and the world, governments, corporates, and citizens collaborate to focus on a green economic recovery. This is a result of the pandemic being inextricably intertwined with global environmental issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, air and water pollution. The South African … [Read more...]
Calls for public release of the Climate Change Bill’s second draft
After months of silence from government on the progress of the Climate Change Bill, Environmental Affairs Minister Barbara Creecy informed Parliament during her Budget Vote speech on 11 July 2019 that the second draft of this critical piece of legislation is currently under review at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). The first draft of the Bill … [Read more...]
First carrots, then sticks to fight the climate crisis, says Barbara Creecy
In her maiden ministerial budget speech on Thursday night, Environment, Forestries and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy announced that she had given her department two years to produce a clean audit, while also working to eliminate the take-make-use-dispose model that governs South Africa. And she challenged Parliament to stop handing out plastic water bottles every … [Read more...]
Budget needs stronger focus on enviro issues and decisive plan to address climate change
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...]
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...]
Calls for captive lion breeding ban welcomed by civil society
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) have come out strongly in favour of a new Parliamentary report that calls for a ban on captive lion breeding in the country. Entitled Captive Lion Breeding for Hunting and Bone Trade in South Africa, the new report finds: Captive lion breeding holds no conservation value; There is no … [Read more...]
Unpacking the social and financial costs of SA’s energy plan
As the country braces itself for the National Treasury’s Medium-Term Budget, the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) joins other NGOs, faith leaders and citizens from around the country to present its comments on the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018 proposed by the Department of Energy (DOE). In recent years, the IRP has been at the … [Read more...]
Parliament concerned about trophy hunting in the Greater Kruger area
Parliament is concerned with issues related to the trophy hunting of Kruger National Park animals and specifically with the contractual relationship between the Kruger and neighbouring private reserves whereby Kruger animals are hunted in the Greater Kruger area, outside of the Park. The Greater Kruger area is an open system permitting Kruger animals to roam across private … [Read more...]
Stop the secret trillion rand nuclear deal
The moment to mobilise on a large scale has come: our next court hearing on the nuclear deal is on Wednesday 22 February and we really need your support. We will be marching from Parliament to the Cape High Court to show government that we care about a just energy future and won’t allow them to push through secret decisions. Where: Cape Town Parliament – Cape High … [Read more...]
People’s hearing reveals much distress over proposed nuclear plans
What are the people's concerns with our government's planned nuclear deal? A People’s Hearing was held for affected communities and civil society to make their voices heard, organised by SAFCEI, together with Earthlife Africa Jhb and the Heinrich Boell Foundation. Together a People’s Statement was written, which civil society handed over to Parliament, outlining the many … [Read more...]
Climate hearings heat up with an eye on Paris
Many moving events are happening in the build up to the most important conference ever on the future of this planet. Last week parliament's Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs devoted one and a half days to holding Climate Hearings. Here was a bumper full hall of colourful people from our rainbow nation – from all sectors and walks of life – pleading with the … [Read more...]
Faith communities appeal minister’s refusal to reveal nuclear secrets
Faith communities, supported by the Right2Know (R2K) Campaign and others gathered outside the Cape Town Parliament to demonstrate against the government’s continued secrecy around the nuke deals. On 1 September, Minister Joemat-Pettersson, Minister of Energy, told members of Parliament that she was committed to a transparent process around the nuclear deals. That same … [Read more...]
736 down this year – the unforgettable cry of a wounded rhino
“They say that the cry of a wounded rhino never leaves you… It is the sound you hear when a rhino wakes with half its face and struggles to its feet, dazed and confused, into a fate it will never understand.” This is an extract from Courage in the Loss of Hope By Lauren Daisy Flynn referring to a poaching incident in Kariega Game Reserve near where I live in Mpuma Coloni. … [Read more...]
