Fresh life for old tyres; visionary 3D-printing for construction: these are just some of the clever and sustainable ideas presented by university students competing in the annual Growthpoint Properties and Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) Greenovate Awards. The University of Stellenbosch triumphed overall, notably in the engineering category – which … [Read more...]
Forests and livelihoods: sustaining people and planet
Covering nearly a third of the planet’s land surface, forests and woodlands are key pillars of human livelihoods and well-being. The largest areas of surviving old-growth forests (OGF) and forest habitats in Europe (outside of Russia) are found primarily in Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia and Bulgaria. They are home to Europe’s largest surviving large carnivore populations, as well … [Read more...]
Victory for nature and the rule of law in Bulgaria
The Bulgarian Supreme Administrative Court suspended the execution of Pirin National Park's new management plan, which would have allowed construction in 66% and logging in 48% of the national park and World Heritage Site. WWF-Bulgaria has been fighting to prohibit new logging and construction in Pirin National Park since November 2016, activities that would endanger many … [Read more...]
Environmental literacy key to a secure climate future
Conservation consciousness and environmental literacy are key to securing an environmental future for all people, says the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy. ”Conservation consciousness cannot be the exclusive domain of a select and privileged few. It must be a key component of our environmental literacy,” said the Minister during her keynote … [Read more...]
UN decade puts focus on ecosystem restoration and climate change
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, declared today by the UN General Assembly, aims to massively scale up the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems as a proven measure to fight the climate crisis and enhance food security, water supply and biodiversity. The degradation of land and marine ecosystems undermines the well-being of 3.2 billion people and costs … [Read more...]
Rapid response needed to limit global warming
Limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society, the IPCC said in a new assessment. With clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems, limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C could go hand in hand with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate … [Read more...]
Stop the world’s first deep sea mine
A Canadian mining company has a license for an insane idea that could become a planetary disaster: the world's first deep sea mine. We all know how toxic mines can devastate land-based ecosystems - imagine corporations unleashed to dig up the ocean floor for minerals, far from any scrutiny. It's the last thing our dying oceans need! The good news is the company is having … [Read more...]
Eco education for teachers a major gap in SA
More than 80% of current teachers were educated in the past segregated system, when environmental education did not feature in teacher education, or in the curriculum, shows a national research study. Teacher education for environment and sustainable development has been neglected in teacher education innovations in the past 15 years. Three large scale national studies on … [Read more...]
Top speakers inspire at the 2015 Green Building Convention
“If everyone got free WiFi with every tree they planted, we wouldn’t have the problem of climate change.” This was the sentiment shared by renowned businessman, activist and sustainability advocate, Jochen Zeitz, at the 8th Annual Green Building Convention in Cape Town recently. The event, hosted by the Green Building Council SA, is a signature gathering on the greening and … [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...]
Greentalent competition looking for our researchers
The search is on for the next Green Talents who will gain exclusive access to the hot-spots of sustainable development in Germany. Last year Pretoria University researcher Heinrich Badenhorst was amongst 25 young researchers from around the world who were honoured as 2013’s Green Talents. Sustainable development is among the most important challenges of our time. Striving … [Read more...]
SA the perfect place for a Just Transition
Earlier this month, delegates from across the world gathered in Stellenbosch to discuss sustainable development at the 19th annual International Sustainable Development Research Conference (ISDRS). You couldn’t have asked for a better place to host such a meeting. This was the sentiment expressed by a number of speakers at the ISDRS conference on Monday. The conference was … [Read more...]
5-step guide to help farmers protect pollinators
Smallholder farmers will soon be better able to weigh up the cost and benefits of adopting new practices that support some of the most overlooked contributors to global food security — the insects and other animals that pollinate their crops and boost yields. Declines in pollinators “Three quarters of all food crops need insect pollinators such as bees to get good yields, and … [Read more...]
