When the Conference of the Parties meets in Scotland this November for COP26 – assuming that they will, in some form or fashion – all eyes will be on the ambition levels of the revised national climate plans that are a part of the Paris Agreement. This meeting of the annual climate conference is where countries are being asked to bring forward ambitious 2030 emissions … [Read more...]
Polluters are slowing down Africa’s progress
The world has no business investing in new fossil fuel developments in our race to the 1.5°C pathway. The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) newly released Net Zero by 2050 roadmap has closed the door on new fossil fuel extraction, and fossil fuel giants have lost their claim to fame of new oil and gas reserves being aligned with the Paris Agreement. It’s a small victory … [Read more...]
Extinction Rebellion condemns East African crude oil pipeline
Extinction Rebellion South Africa calls for all environmentally and socially conscious people to close their accounts with Standard Bank South Africa, and move them to a bank that treats the climate and ecological crisis with the urgency it deserves. Standard Bank, Africa’s biggest lender, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) of Japan are reportedly about to … [Read more...]
Monoculture tree plantations are a false climate solution
Yesterday was the 16th International Day of Struggle against Monoculture Tree Plantations. In 2004, rural communities in Brazil declared the day to commemorate the resistance against the expansion of monoculture tree plantations in Brazil. Through solidarity statements and actions around the world the day has evolved to become an International Day of Struggle. This year, a … [Read more...]
Calling on banks to stop funding East African oil pipeline
Standard Bank, Africa’s biggest lender, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) of Japan are reportedly about to finance a 1,443-kilometer crude oil pipeline through Uganda and Tanzania. If built, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) would be the longest heated crude oil pipeline in the world. Extinction Rebellion SA condemns the pipeline project and will take … [Read more...]
South Africans plan mass global demonstration
The immense socio-economic impact under one of the world’s most extreme lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in South Africans uniting for their voices to be heard under a grassroots movement called Move One Million. The movement, launched in July 2020, has garnered interest from half a million South Africans to date and organisers are using a combination of … [Read more...]
African farmers sold out by secret deal on plant variety protection
"Harmonisation' is the new term used for the removal of African farmers' rights to survive by saving their own seeds as has been done over millenia. This is also the term used for removing our rights to natural and traditional medicines. On 06 July 2015, in Arusha, Tanzania, a Diplomatic Conference held under the auspices of the African Regional Intellectual Property … [Read more...]
Climate fund endorses renewable energy plans in East Africa
The Climate Investment Fund for Scaling up Renewable Energy for Low Income Countries (SREP) is devoting funding of $50 million (USD) to helpd develop financially sustainable long-term markets for the private sector provision of off-grid electricity services in East African countries, Rwanda and Uganda. Energy remains one of the biggest struggles in East Africa, though more … [Read more...]
Ugandan women mobilising for change
Let us recognise the various injustices inflicted upon women by extractive models of development. The WoMin, an African Gender and Extractives Alliance in collaboration with National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) launch its Participatory Action and Research (PAR) on women miners from Katwe Salt Lake, Western Uganda. The PAR is part of a seven … [Read more...]
Zuma urges return to the land
South African president Jacob Zuma urged millions of South Africans to return to the land as a way to augment income and reduce food insecurity. Speaking in late October at a dinner hosted by the recently-launched African Farmers Association of South Africa, Zuma said his government would continue to promote food gardens and other types of subsistence agriculture for people to … [Read more...]
Green lungs for Africa
A responsible corporate company joins hands with an environmental NGO to take on the cause of sustainable forestry in Uganda. Nedbank Capital and Face the Future have signed a pioneering Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to facilitate future collaboration between the two companies with the sole intention of enabling them to jointly develop sustainable forestry projects … [Read more...]
Rainwater harvesting answer for Africa
Experts are lobbying for rainwater harvesting to help solve Africa's water crisis. This is a neglected, yet cheap and simple water supply technique. The continent is running out of water, but many governments are not moving fast enough to replenish sources or enact water-friendly laws. The 15th African International Water Congress was held in Kampala recently. Here over … [Read more...]
