Hundreds of millions of people across the globe are showing their rising concern about nature. New global research, conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and commissioned by WWF, shows that public interest in, and concern for nature has risen markedly (16%) in the past five years and continues to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic. The figures came ahead of … [Read more...]
Methane emissions urgently need to be reduced
A Global Methane Assessment released today by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) shows that human-caused methane emissions can be reduced by up to 45 per cent this decade. Such reductions would avoid nearly 0.3°C of global warming by 2045 and would be consistent with keeping the Paris Climate Agreement’s goal to limit … [Read more...]
Lessons learned during landmark SA nuclear court case
On Monday 26 April, it will be four years since the Western Cape High Court found the government’s R1-trillion nuclear deal and associated energy procurement processes to be “illegal and unconstitutional”. South Africa was spared from a corrupt deal under the Zuma government that would have bankrupted the country. This day also marks 35-years since the Chernobyl nuclear … [Read more...]
Global SO2 emissions dropped last year according to new report
Anthropogenic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions fell globally in 2019, reveals a new analysis of NASA satellite data by Greenpeace India and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). In 2019 human-made SO2 emissions fell in all three of the world’s top SO2 emitter countries - India, Russia and China - the report shows. "While heartening at first glance, the drop … [Read more...]
Does 5G mean the final knockout for the bees?
The great success in Bavaria, Germany, of the referendum "Save the bees!" shows that the saving of the bees and nature is a big concern for many citizens. Populations of flying insects have declined shockingly by 75 to 80 percent since 1989. The goal of the bill is to counter the loss of species, especially the decline of bees, bumblebees and butterflies, by adjusting … [Read more...]
Mpumalanga a hotspot for deadly sulphur dioxide emissions
NASA satellites have found the Kriel area in Mpumalanga to be a global hotspot for deadly sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions. A new study commissioned by Greenpeace India used NASA estimates of anthropogenic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from hotspots around the world, based on data from the agency's satellites. The study found that Kriel in Mpumalanga, with its high … [Read more...]
Stop the Secret Nuclear Deal
On Thursday, 9 February 2017, R2K Western Cape in conjunction with SAFCEI, the Green Anglicans, Earthlife Africa, One Million Climate Jobs Campaign and Catholic Justice and Peace will be occupying bridges along the main arterial routes into Cape Town from 7:30AM - 9AM. They are picketing against the R1 Trillion Nuclear Deal that the government is said to have signed with … [Read more...]
South Africa slows nuclear power expansion plans
South Africa's government has slowed its nuclear power expansion plans, according to a draft energy paper, although state energy utility Eskom said the country should stick to its original plan of bringing a new plant online by 2025. South Africa has the continent's only nuclear power station and is seeking to expand its nuclear, wind, solar and coal power capacity in the … [Read more...]
Help protect the world’s last pristine ocean
There is one almost completely untouched body of water on our planet - a magical place where majestic blue whales, penguins, and mysterious squid roam free. But this paradise - the size of Germany, France and the UK combined - could soon be lost. Hunters have already massacred thousands of endangered whales in Antarctica’s Ross Sea, now massive industrial fishing fleets want … [Read more...]
‘No jobs on a dead planet’ says Kumi
"Preparing for the 22nd Century, Environmentally" was a talk held by Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naido at the Cornerstone Institute in Cape Town recently. Kumi said that faith communities must come to terms with the inconvenient and uncomfortable truth that without the involvement of faith communities, we won’t be able turn around catastrophic climate change. There … [Read more...]
Russia requests international GMO watchdog
Russian lawmakers advocate creation of an international UN agency not only to strictly control the turnover of GMO products worldwide, but with a top priority mission to scrutinize how consuming GMO foods would affect human health in the long run. Aggressive distribution of GMO worldwide is raising huge concerns for human health, said Russian Federation Council speaker … [Read more...]
New law seeks to punish GMO producers
A draft law submitted to the Russian parliament seeks to impose punishment up to criminal prosecution to producers of genetically-modified organisms harmful to health or the environment. The draft legislation submitted on Wednesday amends Russia's law regulating GMOs and some other laws and provides for disciplinary action against individuals and firms, which produce or … [Read more...]
Seeking justice for the Arctic 30
A case was launched yesterday at the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of the Arctic 30, who spent two months in Russian jail for a peaceful protest to save the Arctic. The 30 individuals are requesting "just compensation" from the Russian Federation, and importantly, a statement from the independent Court saying that their apprehension in international waters by … [Read more...]
